Nevada Confirms First Human Case of Bird Flu Linked to Dairy Cattle

A dairy worker in Churchill County contracted the D1.1 strain of H5N1, marking the first reported cow-to-human transmission in the U.S.

The infected worker, exposed while working on a dairy farm, experienced mild symptoms, including eye irritation, and is recovering.
This is the first known instance of the D1.1 bird flu strain transmitting from cattle to a human in the United States, though previous human cases were linked to infected poultry.
Health officials emphasize that there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the D1.1 strain at this time.
The D1.1 strain, previously found in wild birds, was detected in Nevada dairy herds in January 2025 and is considered a low risk to the general public.
Experts warn that the rapid progression of the virus from cattle to humans highlights the need for vigilance, particularly for those in close contact with livestock or poultry.