HOUSTON – Officials have confirmed reports of bird flu (H5N1) being detected in wastewater in the Houston area.
Harris County Public Health says the Houston area is one of nine Texas cities where H5N1 was detected in wastewater samples conducted by the Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute (TEPHI). The samples were from between March 1 and May 13.
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“However, no human cases have been detected in Harris County, and the source of H5N1 in the wastewater is unknown. The most likely source is related to agriculture, and the public risk remains low,” Harris County Public Health says. “Harris County Public Health (HCPH) continues to monitor the situation closely in collaboration with local and regional partners. HCPH maintains the Houston Area Health Alert Network (HAN) and has issued two HANs regarding H5N1 to inform clinical providers of necessary testing steps. Our Office of Epidemiology, Surveillance and Emerging Diseases (OESED) is monitoring syndromic surveillance to detect any potential human cases and ensure outbreak prevention.”
Harris County Public Health encourages people to do the following:
- Avoid exposure to sick or dead animals, including wild birds, poultry, other domesticated birds, and other wild or domesticated animals (including cows), if possible.
- Avoid exposure to animal poop, bedding (litter), unpasteurized (“raw”) milk, or materials that have been touched by, or close to, birds or other animals with suspected or confirmed A(H5N1) virus, if possible.
- Avoid drinking raw milk. Pasteurization kills A(H5N1) viruses, and pasteurized milk is safe to drink.
- Be aware of the risk of exposure to avian influenza viruses and take proper precautions if you have job-related contact with infected or potentially infected birds or other animals. When exposed to an infected or potentially infected animal(s), wear appropriate and recommended personal protective equipment (PPE). The CDC has recommendations for worker protection and the use of PPE.
The agency says they will continue to work with local and regional partners to monitor activity in Harris County and surrounding areas.
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