Several labs will work with federal health authorities to develop a test for avian influenza, as the number of human cases rise across the country.

Researchers in Texas detected H5N1 in wastewater from 10 cities, but the risk to humans is currently low. Ongoing surveillance is critical to monitor any potential changes in the virus that could increase its threat to public health.

The avian flu virus has been widespread in U.S. poultry as well as herds of dairy cows, raising alarms that the virus might somehow mutate and spread between people. The wastewater testing performed between May 12 and July 13 is reassuring,