A new study shows that bird flu has silently spread from animals to some veterinarians. The study published Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention echoes two smaller ones that detected evidence of infection in previously undiagnosed farmworkers.

Three U.S. dairy veterinarians unknowingly had H5N1 infections, otherwise known as bird flu. This included one person who worked only in states without known outbreaks in cows, according to a new study from the U.

CDC finds H5 bird flu antibodies in 3 veterinary practitioners, highlighting need for enhanced surveillance and safety protocols.