Sick waterfowl found in Texas City tests positive for bird flu • Animal control officers who handled wild bird take ill, test negative The Galveston County Health District on Monday (12/16/2024) confirmed that a wild waterfowl found staggering on the road tested positive for Avian Influenza, often called bird flu. A Texas City woman noticed the sickly bird staggering near a roadway and called animal control officers on December 5, said Galveston County Health District CEO Dr. Philip Keiser. Two Texas City Animal Control Officers retrieved the waterfowl and took it to the Galveston County Animal Resource Center. The bird died shortly after and tested positive for bird flu. Initially, officials, with the help of some hunters, identified the duck as a non-migratory Mexican Whistling Tree Duck. Later, Texas Game Wardens identified the bird as a Snow Goose—a Juvenile Blue Morph Snow Goose with darker plumage and a smaller size that could be mistaken for a duck. Snow geese do migrate, causing some extra concern, officials said. The animal control officers, who worked for the Texas City Police Department, soon showed signs of respiratory illness and conjunctivitis, both symptoms of bird flu. Both tested negative for bird flu. The woman who found the duck did not show any signs of infection. Officials did not say in what part of Texas City the sickly bird was found. As a precaution, two Animal Resource Center office staff members are under observation but have not shown symptoms. Dr. Philip Keiser, the county's health authority and CEO of the Galveston County Health District, said the bird is the first positive case of bird flu, also known as H5N1, confirmed in Galveston County. Keiser said a limited number of bird flu vaccines are available and added that people who have gotten their flu vaccination will have some protection against avian influenza. At this point, there isn’t a significant concern about infection, but Keiser wants people to be aware and “vigilant.” As of Monday, there were around 60 human cases of bird flu in the country, Kessler said. Keiser said he was told of a concern about a human Bird Flu case in Harris County but had not confirmed that information with officials there. Harris County health officials reported that wastewater testing during the summer showed the presence of bird flu. Keiser said despite a limited risk, people who live or work around livestock or waterfowl and even those with backyard chicken coops take precautions. Gretchen Gray, the Galveston County Health District's programs manager, said an over-the-counter rapid A/B Flu test can detect bird flu. She said if the test returns positive, the person tested should make an appointment for a confirmation test. More details are expected to be released on Tuesday in a written media statement. Timeline of bird flu in bird in Galveston County as provided by the Galveston County Health District: 12/5: A caller reported finding a bird on the side of the road that looked like it had a seizure. Animal control picked up the bird and evaluated it. 12/6: Bird dies, and testing is recommended 12/10: The bird is picked up by Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Wardens 12/13: GCHD received notification that the bird tested positive for H5N1 12/13: GCHD began testing 2 people exposed to the bird who became symptomatic. Symptomatic people are isolated. The specimens were sent to Houston LRN (lab). GCHD Began contact tracing and monitoring of exposed individuals. 12/14: Received notification of negative results 12/15: 2 people are under active monitoring until 12/20

Posted by i45NOW TJ Aulds at 2024-12-17 12:00:01 UTC