A strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza that’s been decimating wild and captive flocks of birds since 2020 has spread among US dairy cows — and has infected one person in Texas exposed to the sick animals.

While the virus was found in milk, Khabbaza tells PEOPLE that “pasteurized milk is going to be safe and also cooked eggs. In general, we should be cooking our eggs and not eating raw eggs. But as long as these are pasteurized dairy products and cooked foods, it really would eliminate any kind of risk to us.”

Bird flu typically spreads among birds, but there have been recent outbreaks among cattle in the U.S., and one Texas man contracted the virus from sick cows. Here’s why so many experts are worried about a possible new pandemic.