Goicoechea says the fight against bird flu is daunting. “Biggest challenge for us is biosecurity right now, especially when we are talking H5N1, this variant that we’re dealing with in Nevada.

Wild birds are the primary carries spreading the virus to domestic flocks. The Nevada Department of Wildlife tells FOX5 every dead wild bird found is not necessarily tested.

In December, it spilled over to a resident of Louisiana after contact with wild and backyard birds. The person became critically ill and died, marking the first US H5N1 bird flu death.

Wild birds likely transmitted the second strain to cattle in Nevada, said J.J. Goicoechea, Nevada's agriculture director. Farmers need to ramp up safety and security measures to protect their ...