A new type of bird flu has been detected in a human dairy worker in Nevada.

This strain is different from the version that’s been spreading in herds since last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

The case was apparently mild, as the Churchill County dairy worker was not hospitalized and has recovered, the Associated Press reported, citing health officials.

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The person mainly experienced eye redness and irritation, similar to most bird flu cases associated with dairy cows, according to the AP.

While the new bird flu strain, D1.1, has been reported in more than a dozen humans exposed to infected poultry, this is the first cow-to-human case.

In a press release addressing the situation, the Central Nevada Health District (CNHD) confirmed there is no evidence of this virus being spread from the infected individual to other people.

BIRD FLU PATIENT HAD VIRUS MUTATIONS, SPARKING CONCERN ABOUT HUMAN SPREAD

The CDC noted on its website that bird flu’s risk to the general public remains low.

But those who are in constant and close contact with cows, poultry and other animals are at a higher risk — and are encouraged to wear protective equipment and take necessary precautions.

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Jacob Glanville, CEO of Centivax in San Francisco, commented in a statement to Fox News Digital that within a week of the D1.1 strain being detected in Nevada cows, there was already a human infection.

"This isn’t the first D1.1 human infection: It has already resulted in an American death, a severe illness, and some other infections in five other states," the expert said.

"The significance of this new infection is to reveal how quickly we go from cattle infections to human spillover."

Glanville confirmed that the cattle infections of the D1.1 strain prove that it contains mammalian adaptive mutations. 

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"While we have yet to see human-to-human transmission, with such rapid progression from cattle to human cases, it may only be a matter of time before an H5N1 pandemic," he said.

Fox News Digital reached out to the CDC for further comment.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.

As health officials report a surge of winter viruses, health experts are warning that heart disease symptoms can sometimes mimic respiratory illnesses.

Four viruses are circulating in the U.S., sparking concerns of a possible "quademic."

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza, COVID-19 and norovirus are all at "very high levels" around the country, experts warn. 

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The American Heart Association (AHA) confirmed that certain viruses have been linked to increased risk of heart attack and stroke. 

"The highest risk is within three days of infection, but remains heightened for up to 90 days," the AHA stated on its website.

Johanna Contreras, M.D., a cardiologist at Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital in New York City, said she has seen people mistaking virus symptoms for serious heart complications.

Some patients who experience shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, swelling and palpitations may assume their symptoms are linked to a cold when these could be signs of heart failure, she said in a release sent to Fox News Digital.

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Weakness, fever, dizziness and chest pain could also mask potentially life-threatening conditions.

Those may include pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lungs), heart attack, pericarditis (inflammation around the lining of the heart), heart failure or viral myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), according to Mount Sinai cardiologists.

Viruses can provoke an inflammatory condition, which can lead to or worsen cardiac conditions, according to Dr. Icilma Fergus, director of cardiovascular disparities for the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City.

"Typically, those [viruses] that make one sicker and promote a hypercoaguable state (an increased tendency to form blood clots) are more dangerous," she told Fox News Digital. 

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"The focus has now been increasingly placed on RSV and norovirus on top of the known influenza and COVID viruses."

Anuradha Lala, M.D., another cardiologist at Mount Sinai in New York City, noted that the body’s immune system creates an inflammatory response to fight and eliminate the virus — but this inflammation could inadvertently harm cardiac tissue. 

"If you have a known heart condition, viral infections can bring on exacerbations — or a worsening of the underlying tissue — whether it is atrial fibrillation, coronary heart disease or heart failure," she noted in the release.

A recent patient at the hospital recently experienced severe shortness of breath, weakness, palpitations and fatigue, fearing they had heart failure, she noted. 

"After they had bloodwork taken, there was a frantic moment when we could not reach the patient to share results that revealed a significantly elevated troponin level, which can be linked to a heart attack," she shared in the release. 

"Although we suspected the worst, we eventually reached the patient and they were hospitalized with influenza A and severe viral myocarditis. They were treated appropriately and luckily there was a good outcome."

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Older adults — as well as those who are immunocompromised or have a history of heart issues or other underlying conditions — are particularly at risk for cardiac complications, according to the Mount Sinai cardiologists. 

"Anyone is susceptible, even healthcare providers — and anyone who is not paying attention to their symptoms may get sick with potentially life-threatening complications," Fergus said in the report.

Patients who notice persistent chest pain and palpitations after a viral illness should consider ruling out myocarditis, which is inflammation of the heart muscle, according to Contreras.

It is important to discuss any post-virus symptoms with a healthcare professional, especially for those in high-risk groups, health experts told Fox News Digital.

Specific symptoms that warrant emergency attention include chest pain, difficulty breathing or staying awake, feelings of passing out, or extremes of blood pressure.

Swelling of the legs may also be linked to cardiac events — especially if there is also an underlying heart condition or risk factors such as obesity, diabetes or a family history of heart disease, Lala stated in the Mount Sinai release.

During the cold, damp winter months, certain viruses may thrive and become more virulent, Fergus told Fox News Digital. 

"People should stay vigilant and observe for symptoms of an impending cold," she advised. "Get tested to know what virus you have, as the antiviral treatments are different."

People should take measures to avoid exposure to winter illnesses and seek treatment if they become ill, especially if they have an underlying condition, Fergus advised.

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It is recommended that those who are in vulnerable groups get vaccines when available, the cardiologist added.

The American Heart Association recommends following the below precautions to reduce the chances of contracting a virus: 

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Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S., according to the American Heart Association.

A child in California is presumed to have H5N1 bird flu, according to the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH).

As of Dec. 23, there had been 36 confirmed human cases of bird flu in the state, according to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).

This represents more than half of the human cases in the country.

LOUISIANA REPORTS FIRST BIRD FLU-RELATED HUMAN DEATH IN US

The latest pediatric patient, who lives in San Francisco, experienced fever and conjunctivitis (pink eye) as a result of the infection.

The unnamed patient was not hospitalized and has fully recovered, according to the SFDPH.

The child tested positive for bird flu at the SFDPH Public Health Laboratory. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will perform additional tests to confirm the result.

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It is not yet known how the child was exposed to the virus and an investigation is ongoing.

"I want to assure everyone in our city that the risk to the general public is low, and there is no current evidence that the virus can be transmitted between people," said Dr. Grant Colfax, director of health, in the press release. 

BIRD FLU PATIENT HAD VIRUS MUTATIONS, SPARKING CONCERN ABOUT HUMAN SPREAD

"We will continue to investigate this presumptive case, and I am urging all San Franciscans to avoid direct contact with sick or dead birds, especially wild birds and poultry. Also, please avoid unpasteurized dairy products." 

Samuel Scarpino, director of AI and life sciences and professor of health sciences at Northeastern University in Boston, is calling for "decisive action" to protect individuals who may be in contact with infected livestock and also to alert the public about the risks associated with wild birds and infected backyard flocks. 

"While I agree that the risk to the broader public remains low, we continue to see signs of escalating risk associated with this outbreak," he told Fox News Digital.

Experts have warned that the possibility of mutations in the virus could enable person-to-person transmission.

"While the H5N1 virus is currently thought to only transmit from animals to humans, multiple mutations that can enhance human-to-human transmission have been observed in the severely sick American," Dr. Jacob Glanville, CEO of Centivax, a San Francisco biotechnology company, told Fox News Digital.

"This highlights the requirement for vigilance and preparation in the event that additional mutations create a human-transmissible pandemic strain."

As of Jan. 10, there have been a total of 707 infected cattle in California, per reports from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).

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In the last 30 days alone, the virus has been confirmed in 84 dairy farms in the state.

Texas officials confirmed Wednesday that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI or bird flu) has been detected in Austin-Travis County after tests were performed on dead birds discovered in North Austin earlier this month.

The Austin Public Health Department and Texas Department of State Health Services said the tests on the deceased birds were conducted by an area veterinary lab, which detected the virus.

Austin Public Health issued the advisory Wednesday as a reminder to the public that people who work with infected wild birds, poultry or dairy cows are at a greater risk of contracting the virus if they are exposed to a sick or infected dead animal.

While bird flu typically affects wild birds, especially waterfowl, and domestic poultry, over 60 human cases of bird flu have been detected across the U.S.

BIRD FLU PATIENT HAD VIRUS MUTATIONS, SPARKING CONCERN ABOUT HUMAN SPREAD

A patient in Louisiana who had been hospitalized with the first human case of bird flu died Monday, according to the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH).

The unidentified patient was over 65 and was reported to have underlying medical conditions, the agency said.

The same patient was found to have a mutated version of the virus, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced last week, suggesting bird flu could potentially spread from human to human.

LOUISIANA REPORTS FIRST BIRD FLU-RELATED HUMAN DEATH IN US

Both the CDC and the LDH maintain that the risk to the public remains low.

Officials did caution, however, that those who come in contact with birds, poultry or cows are at a higher risk of contracting the virus.

As of Friday, there were 66 confirmed human cases of bird flu, including the Louisiana case, according to the CDC. Of those, 37 were in California, 11 in Washington state and 10 in Colorado. 

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Around 40 of the cases were related to exposure to cattle herds.

Avian influenza is a highly contagious virus that can spread through contact with infected animals, by equipment and on the clothing and shoes of caretakers, according to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Austin health officials encourage anyone who comes across a sick or dead bird to contact the Texas Animal Health Commission at 800-550-8242. The officials also encourage anyone with a sick or dead pet bird to contact a veterinarian.

Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano contributed to this report.

New research is emphasizing that socializing with friends and family may help protect people against heart attack, stroke, type 2 diabetes and other conditions and illnesses.

The study suggests that social interactions may keep people healthy because these interactions boost the immune system and reduce the risk of disease.

Cambridge University researchers, along with colleagues in China, came to these conclusions after studying protein in blood samples taken from over 42,000 adults recruited to the U.K. Biobank, news agency SWNS reported. 

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The study team said social relationships play a key role in well-being. 

Professor Barbara Sahakian of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge said, "These findings drive home the importance of social contact in keeping us well. More and more people of all ages are reporting feeling lonely," as SWNS noted.

"That’s why the World Health Organization has described social isolation and loneliness as a global public health concern … We need to find ways to tackle this growing problem and keep people connected to help them stay healthy."

Evidence increasingly shows that both social isolation and loneliness are linked to poorer health and an early death, the same source reported. But the underlying mechanisms through which social relationships impact health apparently have remained elusive until now, the news agency also said.

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy previously warned against the health risks of loneliness, as Fox News Digital reported earlier. 

"Loneliness is a common feeling that many people experience," he said when issuing an advisory nearly two years ago on the topic, per The Associated Press. "It's like hunger or thirst. It's a feeling the body sends us when something we need for survival is missing."

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"Millions of people in America are struggling in the shadows, and that's not right," he also said at the time. "That's why I issued this advisory to pull back the curtain on a struggle that too many people are experiencing."

The researchers connected to the new study said that one way to explore biological mechanisms is to look at proteins circulating in the blood, SWNS noted. Proteins, which are molecules produced by genes, are essential for helping the human body function properly.

They can also serve as useful drug targets, allowing scientists to develop new treatments to tackle diseases. 

The Cambridge team and scientists at Fudan University, China, examined the "proteomes," or the suite of proteins, in blood samples donated by more than 42,000 British adults aged 40 to 69. 

That allowed them to see which proteins were present at higher levels among people who were socially isolated or lonely — and how these proteins were connected to poorer health, SWNS said.

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The team calculated social isolation and loneliness scores for individuals in the study, which was published in Nature Human Behaviour, a monthly peer-reviewed journal. 

Social isolation is an objective measure based on, for example, whether people live alone, how frequently they have contact with others and whether they take part in social activities, the team said. 

Loneliness, by contrast, is a subjective measure based on whether an individual feels lonely.

When the researchers analyzed the proteomes and adjusted for factors including age, sex and socio-economic background, they found 175 proteins associated with social isolation and 26 proteins associated with loneliness. 

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Many of the proteins are produced in response to inflammation, viral infection and as part of immune responses, the team said — and they also showed links to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke and early death.

The researchers then used a statistical technique to explore the causal relationship between social isolation and loneliness, on the one hand, and proteins on the other.

With that approach, they identified five proteins that were found in abundance during periods of loneliness.

"We know that social isolation and loneliness are linked to poorer health, but we’ve never understood why," said Dr. Chun Shen of the department of clinical neurosciences at the University of Cambridge and the Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University.

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"Our work has highlighted a number of proteins that appear to play a key role in this relationship, with levels of some proteins in particular increasing as a direct consequence of loneliness," he said, as SWNS reported.

Professor Jianfeng Feng of the University of Warwick said, "There are more than 100,000 proteins and many of their variants in the human body … AI and high-throughput proteomics can help us pinpoint some key proteins in prevention, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis for many human diseases and revolutionize the traditional view of human health."

He also said, "The proteins we’ve identified give us clues to the biology underpinning poor health among people who are socially isolated or lonely, highlighting why social relationships play such an important part in keeping us healthy."

One of the proteins produced at higher levels as a result of loneliness was ADM.

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Previous studies have shown that ADM plays a role in responding to stress and in regulating stress hormones and social hormones, such as oxytocin — known as the "love hormone" — which can reduce stress and improve mood.

The team found a "strong" association between ADM and the volume of the insula, a brain hub for interoception, the ability to sense what's happening inside the body.

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The greater the ADM levels, the smaller the volume of the region. 

Higher ADM levels were also linked to lower volume of the left caudate — a region involved in emotional, reward and social processes. Higher levels of ADM were also linked to an increased risk of dying young.

The researchers said another of the proteins, ASGR1, is associated with higher cholesterol and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease — while other identified proteins play roles in the development of insulin resistance, "furring" of the arteries and cancer progression.

Melissa Rudy of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.

The patient in Louisiana who was hospitalized with severe bird flu illness was found to have a mutated version of the virus, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced last week.

The fact that the virus mutated within the patient suggests that it could potentially spread from human to human.

The CDC analyzed samples of the H5N1 virus that were collected from the patient, comparing its genomic sequences to those of infected dairy cows, wild birds, poultry and other animals, the agency stated.

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"The analysis identified low frequency mutations in the hemagglutinin gene of a sample sequenced from the patient, which were not found in virus sequences from poultry samples collected on the patient’s property, suggesting the changes emerged in the patient after infection," the CDC said.

"While these low frequency changes are rare in humans, they have been reported in previous cases of A(H5N1) in other countries and most often during severe disease."

Based on the discovery of these genetic changes in the virus, health officials recommend performing "ongoing genomic surveillance" in people and animals, taking steps to contain bird flu outbreaks among dairy cattle and poultry, and taking steps to prevent transmission when exposed to infected animals or environments.

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The CDC maintains that the risk to the general public is still low.

"The same mutations were not present in viral genomes sampled from the backyard birds that presumably infected the individual," Samuel Scarpino, director of AI and life sciences and professor of health sciences at Northeastern University in Boston, confirmed to Fox News Digital. 

"Because the mutations were present in the human patient, but not the backyard birds, this suggests that the mutations arose during the course of that individual’s infection."

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News senior medical analyst, told Fox News Digital, shared his thoughts on the significance of this finding.

"It is somewhat concerning that the H5N1 bird flu virus found in the Louisiana patient showed a mutation that allowed it to enter the upper airways more easily in this patient, but this mutation has been seen before," he told Fox News Digital.

The good news, the doctor noted, is that there have not been any reports of the Louisiana patient transmitting the virus to other humans.

"We know the mutations to look out for in terms of the potential to spread among humans" based on previous research, Siegel said. 

"It is important that surveillance among domestic poultry and dairy cattle is extensive," he added. 

Scarpino agreed that while the mutations are "concerning," they "likely do not represent an increased risk to the public."

"Similar events — mutations arising during infection that increase risk in humans — occurred with the individual who was infected with H5N1 from wild birds in Canada and have happened a number of times during previous H5N1 outbreaks outside the U.S. and Canada," he told Fox News Digital. 

"To date, it does not appear as though the individual in Louisiana transmitted the infection to other people."

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The doctor cautioned, however, that the more opportunities the virus has to infect people, the more likely similar mutations will occur and spark a "chain of transmission" in humans. 

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"Each human infection represents a spin of the epidemic roulette wheel," Scarpino said. 

"We need to take active steps to eliminate H5N1 infections in agricultural populations and better understand why so many wild birds continue to be infected."

Travel is a big part of the holiday season, with statistics showing that more than 119 million Americans plan to embark on some type of journey between Christmas and New Year's.

Unfortunately, traveling also increases the risk of getting sick — but there are steps you can take to increase your chances of staying healthy while away from home.

"When you're traveling, when you're on the road, there's a lot of risk of stress and disorientation," Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News senior medical analyst, told Fox News Digital.

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"You're not in your usual habitat, and that can make people disoriented, upset, anxious or even sleep-deprived, especially when changing time zones."

Siegel shared some of his top tips for preventing illness during holiday travel.

Staying hydrated has been shown to boost the immune system and protect against illness.

Water is always best, but other hydrating fluids include plain coffee or tea, sparkling or flavored waters, 100% vegetable juice, and milk or milk alternatives.

It’s best to travel while "well-exercised," Siegel said.

"If you have a regular exercise routine, I wouldn't suspend it a week before travel," he said.

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"If you're regularly exercising, sleeping right and eating right before you go, I think that that puts you in much better shape when you're traveling."

Siegel said he’s a "big believer" in wiping down surfaces, especially when traveling by plane.

"You wouldn't believe what these surfaces carry — we've studied that," he said. "There are a lot of germs in that tray table, and it's the person next to you who could be sick." 

"When you're about to take a trip, it is a good time for you to think about whether you’re up-to-date on your vaccines," Siegel said.

One immunization that isn’t given enough attention, according to the doctor, is Tdap, a combination vaccine that protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough).

It is given at least once every five to 10 years.

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"There's a ton of whooping cough around this year," Siegel said. "Thousands of cases are reported, but many thousands aren't."

The doctor also recommends the shingles shot for those over the age of 50 and the pneumonia vaccine for people 60 and older.

"When you're under stress from travel, that might be when you could get sick," Siegel said, as the immune system isn't functioning at an optimal level. 

"That's when shingles might reappear," he warned. "Shingles is actually a chickenpox virus that's dormant in your body for years, but can recur at times of stress."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends that everyone 6 months and older receives COVID and flu vaccinations, with rare exceptions.

For those who take multiple daily medications, the doctor recommends traveling with one pill bottle and putting the various pills in it, making it less likely for any to get misplaced.

"Make sure you have more than enough," he advised. "You never know when you're going to get delayed, especially around holiday travel."

Siegel recommends bringing three or four extra days of pills for all medications.

"Depending on what chronic illnesses you may have, it's a good idea to be up-to-date with blood draws and visits to your doctor" before traveling, he added.

It can be challenging to maintain a regular sleep cycle while traveling, Siegel noted, especially when time zones are changing.

"The more you can catch some winks while traveling, the better off you're going to be," he said.

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For those who have trouble falling asleep while on the road, Siegel recommends identifying what makes you drift off at home and using those same techniques.

"I get asked a lot for sleeping aids," he said. "For people who are traveling on long trips, I personally am uncomfortable giving medication if the patient hasn't been taking it already."

While masks "got a bad name" during the pandemic because of mandates, Siegel noted that they are tools that can be used for those who are ill or at a higher risk. 

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"If you're a person who’s at risk of an infectious disease or has a chronic illness, the last thing you need is to get the flu, COVID or RSV."

The doctor recommends considering a mask for tight spaces where there are a lot of people around.

"You don't know what they have or what they are harboring," he said.

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"That's why I would consider one, especially if you're at high risk."

Overall, Siegel said, "staying hydrated, eating right and sleeping properly as best as possible is the way to go in decreasing stress while traveling."

Just days after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a new order that all raw (unpasteurized) milk must be tested for bird flu, reports have emerged of animals dying of the virus.

In Los Angeles County, the public health department is investigating the deaths of two cats that reportedly consumed recalled raw milk.

After drinking the milk, the felines displayed symptoms that included lack of appetite, fever and neurologic issues, according to a press release from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

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"The infected cats died after severe worsening of their illness, and subsequently tested positive for influenza A, a rare result in cats," the release stated.

Health officials are considering these "suspected H5 bird flu cases" and confirmatory testing is underway.

Cats can contract bird flu by consuming infected birds or other animals or drinking raw milk from infected cows, according to health officials.

Although it is possible for cats to transmit influenza strains to humans, there have been no reports of it happening with the current H5 bird flu outbreak.

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"The risk of H5 bird flu remains low in Los Angeles County, but this suspected case of the virus in a pet cat that consumed raw milk is a reminder that consuming raw dairy products can lead to severe illness in cats," said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, in the release. 

"To avoid the spread of disease, including H5 bird flu, we strongly encourage residents and their pets to avoid raw dairy and undercooked meat products, limit contact with sick or dead animals, report sick or dead birds, and keep pets or poultry away from wild animals and birds."

Fox News Digital reached out to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health for additional comment.

Meanwhile, at the Wildlife World Zoo in Maricopa County, Arizona, a few resident animals have reportedly died after becoming infected with bird flu.

Local reports stated that a cheetah, a mountain lion, a swamphen, an Indian goose and a kookaburra died as a result of bird flu, according to a zoo official.

A white tiger also was confirmed to be infected but "appeared to be responding to treatment," per the report.

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"Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) is working closely with state and federal partners to respond to detection of avian influenza in a small number of animals that are part of a zoo collection in Litchfield Park," health officials stated in a press release this week.

"Overall risk to the public and zoo visitors remains low."

A zoo representative provided an update to Fox News Digital on Friday.

"Fortunately, we are nine days out without anymore positive cases," the spokesperson said. "We also have not had any positive cases with any of our employees or volunteers as a result of avian influenza."

"We are all devastated by the loss of five cherished animals, but with over 6,000 animals, we are grateful that the impact was limited thanks to our swift response and robust protocols."

Continued outbreaks have also been reported among dairy cattle, poultry, waterfowl and wild birds in multiple U.S. states.

Sam Scarpino, PhD, director of AI and life sciences at Northeastern University in Boston, said the animal deaths are "continued signs" that the situation with H5N1 in the U.S. is "getting worse, not better."

"The reported infections in humans and now domestic cats due to their consumption of raw milk also highlights how dangerous it is for people to consume raw milk," he told Fox News Digital. 

"It’s important that we take steps to better control the transmission of H5N1 in dairy cows and better understand how it’s spreading between states in the U.S."

Dr. Jacob Glanville, CEO of Centivax, a San Francisco biotechnology company, warned that H5N1 has been found in "relatively high concentrations" in raw milk.

"Without pasteurizing it, the virus remains viable in the milk and could potentially infect someone who drinks it," he told Fox News Digital. 

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"It’s not that common of an occurrence, as we’ve not seen a rash of H5N1 infections from raw milk drinkers, but the virus is mutating and is therefore a potential risk."

Although most cows have only had mild infection, Glanville noted that the strain has been "highly virulent" in birds, ferrets and primates.

"Studies indicate that even a single mutation could significantly enhance its infectivity in humans," he said.

"Given the virus’ ability to persist in milk and infect mucosal membranes, along with the potential for a pandemic, avoiding raw milk is strongly recommended," Glanville added.

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The expert also emphasized that it’s critical to only drink pasteurized milk to prevent the spread of harmful pathogens commonly found in raw milk.