Answering viewer questions: What to know about bird flu
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Bird flu has been spreading into Texas, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Division (TPWD) said it recently found cases in Travis, Wharton, Galveston, El Paso, Potter and Harris counties.
KXAN looked at questions sent in by viewers and ones on social media, and here are the answers we found.
What is it?
Bird flu, also called H5N1 or Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, is a highly contagious virus that primarily infects birds. In particular, it mostly affects waterfowl and raptor bird species, according to the Cornell University Ornithology Laboratory.
It can spread to other animals, such as cattle, cats and humans. The virus rarely spreads from person-to-person, according to Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).
Symptoms can include: Fever, diarrhea, cough, nausea, sore throat, vomiting, runny or stuffy nose, fatigue, sneezing, seizures, muscle or body aches, rash, headaches, eye redness or irritation, and difficulty breathing.
How to stay safe, avoid spread
Austin Public Health recommends the following safety tips:
- Do not touch sick or dead animals or their droppings, and do not bring sick wild animals into your home.
- Keep your pets away from sick or dead animals and their feces.
- Avoid uncooked food products such as unpasteurized raw milk or cheeses.
- If you experience illness after contact with sick or dead birds, please contact your healthcare provider for evaluation.
Additionally, APH said that workers who come into contact with animals should wear the proper protective gear. That includes "fitted unvented or indirectly vented safety goggles, disposable gloves, boots or boot covers, a mask or other face covering, disposable fluid-resistant coveralls, and disposable head cover or hair cover."
TPWD recommends that hunters take the following precautions:
- Dispose of animal carcasses properly;
- Wear gloves when processing animals;
- Avoid consumption or processing of any sick bird;
- Clean and disinfect tools between carcasses; and,
- Cook meat to proper temperatures.
The Cornell Lab doesn't currently recommend taking down backyard bird feeders unless there are poultry birds (chickens, ducks, etc.) on the property.
Have more questions?
Have questions that we didn't answer here? Please send them to us using the form below: