BIRD FLU IN BIRDS, COWS AND MILK: HOW WORRIED SHOULD PEOPLE BE?

"Bird flu" is back in the news after officials in Galveston County, Texas, confirmed that several dead wild birds had tested positive for H5N1, a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza.

- TDG NETWORK

Representative image. Representative image.

At least 27 birds have been found dead in recent days. Ten people who had handled the birds developed flu-like symptoms, but all tested negative for H5N1, and the overall risk to the public is still described as low.

This local flareup is part of a bigger story. Since 2021, the H5N1 virus has spread widely in wild birds and poultry around the world. In 2024-2025 it did something new: it spilled over into dairy cows in the United States, surprising experts and raising questions about food safety and worker protection.

So what does this mean for ordinary people?