Bird Flu Infects Dairy Cows And Farm Worker In The US

The US Department of Agriculture has confirmed that dairy cows in Texas and Kansas have tested positive for the H5N1 strain of bird flu, with some cows displaying flu-like symptoms. The cows are believed to have caught the virus from wild birds, though the exact mode of transmission is still unclear. The infected cows are not expected to die, and any contaminated milk will be destroyed to prevent the virus from entering the food chain.

In addition to the infected cows, a farm worker in Texas has also contracted the virus, exhibiting mild symptoms like conjunctivitis. Bird flu has affected a wide range of mammal species around the world, with 48 species testing positive for the virus. While the risk of human infection remains low, experts warn that every transmission between species gives the virus the opportunity to mutate into a form that could more easily spread to humans.