Officials are warning residents not to touch anything out of the ordinary.
Galveston County, Texas, officials are urging people not to touch dead birds, as multiple H5N1 cases have been reported across the area as of Dec. 1, 2025.Peter Schaefer/Getty Images
By Timothy Malcolm,Deputy Managing Editor for Texas LifestyleDec 2, 2025
Officials in Galveston County confirmed Monday several positive cases of avian influenza, or bird flu, across the area. In fact, the county said that 27 birds have died from influenza, known as H5N1, already during this outbreak.
“Of the 27, six birds have been sent to the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) for further diagnostic testing and confirmation,” read a release issued Monday by the Galveston County Health District. The birds were found in Dickinson, Santa Fe and Texas City, according to the Health District’s Amanda Wolff.
Further, the Health District said 10 humans had direct contact with infected birds. All 10 individuals were evaluated and eight had flu-like symptoms, but all testing came back negative for influenza.
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“At this time in Galveston County, there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission, and the risk to the general public remains low,” continued the Health District.
That said, the Health District is warning residents not to touch any dead birds. Cat owners are specifically being called out, as pets that may hunt or scavenge birds could have an elevated risk of exposure. Owners should look out for unusual tiredness, loss of appetite, fever or trouble breathing. Also, “sudden death” would be a concern.
Bird flu season
Bird flu can creep into Southeast Texas, and instances usually increase around this time of year, as birds begin migrating south through the Lone Star State during the winter months. In early December 2024, the Health District reported that a bird found in Texas City tested positive for H5N1.
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H5N1 is widespread worldwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control, and is currently impacting U.S. dairy cows and poultry. Since 2024, 71 human cases of bird flu have been identified, with two deaths. Only one of those human cases was in Texas. The CDC says the health risk to humans remains low.
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