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Texas officers confirmed Wednesday that extremely pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI or fowl flu) has been detected in Austin-Travis County after exams had been carried out on lifeless birds found in North Austin earlier this month.
The Austin Public Well being Division and Texas Division of State Well being Providers stated the exams on the deceased birds had been carried out by an space veterinary lab, which detected the virus.
Austin Public Well being issued the advisory Wednesday as a reminder to the general public that individuals who work with contaminated wild birds, poultry or dairy cows are at a larger danger of contracting the virus if they’re uncovered to a sick or contaminated lifeless animal.
Whereas fowl flu usually impacts wild birds, particularly waterfowl, and home poultry, over 60 human instances of fowl flu have been detected throughout the U.S.
BIRD FLU PATIENT HAD VIRUS MUTATIONS, SPARKING CONCERN ABOUT HUMAN SPREAD
A affected person in Louisiana who had been hospitalized with the primary human case of fowl flu died Monday, in keeping with the Louisiana Division of Well being (LDH).
The unidentified affected person was over 65 and was reported to have underlying medical circumstances, the company stated.
The identical affected person was discovered to have a mutated model of the virus, the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) introduced final week, suggesting fowl flu may doubtlessly unfold from human to human.
LOUISIANA REPORTS FIRST BIRD FLU-RELATED HUMAN DEATH IN US
Each the CDC and the LDH keep that the chance to the general public stays low.
Officers did warning, nevertheless, that those that are available in contact with birds, poultry or cows are at the next danger of contracting the virus.
As of Friday, there have been 66 confirmed human instances of fowl flu, together with the Louisiana case, in keeping with the CDC. Of these, 37 had been in California, 11 in Washington state and 10 in Colorado.
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Round 40 of the instances had been associated to publicity to cattle herds.
Avian influenza is a extremely contagious virus that may unfold by means of contact with contaminated animals, by gear and on the clothes and sneakers of caretakers, in keeping with the Michigan Division of Agriculture and Rural Growth.
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Austin well being officers encourage anybody who comes throughout a sick or lifeless fowl to contact the Texas Animal Well being Fee at 800-550-8242. The officers additionally encourage anybody with a sick or lifeless pet fowl to contact a veterinarian.
Fox Information Digital’s Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
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