In early April, a Texas farmer tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as “bird flu.” The virus has been spreading among birds and most recently, cattle, but this is only the second-ever case of transmission to humans in the US. The CDC says 1) risk to humans remains low but states have been asked to plan for testing and treating affected farm workers, and 2) store bought dairy products are still safe to consume.

Bird flu has recently been found in dairy cows in Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Michigan and Idaho. This has been the first documented instance of the virus spreading to cattle.

The Texas farmer who tested positive for bird flu had been exposed to infected dairy cows. The patient was hospitalized and the only reported symptom was conjunctivitis (pink eye).

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasize that the current risk for humans is low, particularly for people who have limited contact with animals. Experts recommend using caution around sick or dead wild animals.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there is no concern about consumers getting sick from contaminated dairy products. Pasteurization kills viruses and farmers do not sell milk from sick cows. Experts continue to urge against consuming raw (unpasteurized) milk or cheese, which pose several health risks to humans.

At this time, bird flu doesn’t easily spread between humans. Scientists are monitoring existing cases for possible mutations that could change this.

It’s not yet clear how the infected cattle contracted bird flu. It’s possible that the virus has been spreading from cow to cow.