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Influenza A and B pose more of a risk for Fort Worth residents than bird flu, according to Tarrant County Public Health leaders.Tarrant County Public Health Director Dr. Brian Byrd and Tarrant County Chief Epidemiologist Russ Jones informed Fort Worth City Council members Feb. 4 that bird flu does not pose a significant health risk to the general public but residents should be aware of an ongoing surge in influenza.  The percentage of people coming into Tarrant County emergency departments for flu-like symptoms spiked from 6% to 28% last week, Jones said. Tarrant County Public Health recorded 46 flu outbreaks in the last two weeks, with 41 in schools. In 2024, the county health department had nine reported outbreaks. Between Jan. 26 and Feb. 1, Cook Children’s Medical Center Fort Worth saw over 1,200 cases of Flu A and Flu B, the hospital said in a statement. During the same time period last year, Cook Children’s reported 800 flu cases. “Unfortunately, this is a trend we’re seeing year after year,” Dr. Mary Suzanne Whitworth, medical director of infectious diseases at Cook Children’s, said in a statement. “The rates of respiratory illness among children in our community continue to rise. Many of these children need medical attention to control their symptoms.”While flu surges, reported COVID-19 cases remain low, said Dr. Nikhil Bhayani, infection prevention physician adviser for Texas Health Resources, in a statement.“To protect oneself from the flu or from spreading it, make sure you’re up-to-date on your flu vaccine, wash your hands often and stay home if feeling ill,” Bhayani said.Dr. Razaq Badamosi, a pulmonologist and the chief quality officer at JPS Health Network, said the health system has seen a range in severity of flu cases within the last week, with some requiring hospitalization due to complications. Badamosi strongly advised residents to get the flu vaccine immediately. To avoid infection, everyone should avoid touching their faces and wear a mask in crowded spaces if feeling unwell or at higher risk for illness, Badamosi said. “If you are experiencing severe symptoms — such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, confusion, or persistent high fever — please seek emergency care immediately,” Badamosi said. Kathryn Miller is a reporting fellow at the Fort Worth Report. You can contact her at kathryn.miller@fortworthreport.org. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.