Bird flu isn’t new, but it’s getting a lot of attention now, and people are asking questions: Will it affect me? How do people get it? How serious is it?
The virus, called H5N1, is spreading among wild birds, poultry and, for the first time, cows. Some farm workers, cats, goats and other animals also have become ill after coming into contact with infected birds or cattle.
Just as human viruses such as the flu and COVID-19 change over time, so does avian flu. The current version of H5N1 is spreading a lot, killing millions of birds and infecting thousands of dairy cows. People who work with chickens and other birds, and more recently dairy farm workers, have come down with bird flu. So far, though, avian flu is not being spread from one person to another. But public health agencies and scientists are preparing for that.
The large amount of bird flu in the United States is concerning, said Mary Hayden, MD, director of infectious diseases and the James R. Lowenstine Professor of Internal Medicine. "The more infection there is, the more likely the organisms are going to mutate, and the greater chance they are going to mutate to a form that would infect humans and spread person to person."
Most people who have been infected with bird flu have experienced mild symptoms, though some cases have been more serious, including one that was fatal and involved someone of advanced age who had underlying medical conditions.
What can you do?
- Don’t drink raw milk. It can carry bacteria and viruses, including bird flu. Milk sold in stores in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin must be pasteurized, meaning germs are killed before the milk is bottled.
- Keep pets away from all wildlife, especially dead animals. Ducks, geese and other waterfowl are the biggest carriers of H5N1. If you come across a dead bird or animal, don’t touch it and don’t let your pet or children touch it either.
- Keep cats indoors and keep dogs away from dead animals or contaminated areas.
- Cook your eggs. The risk of avian flu from eggs is low, the FDA reports. But raw eggs and uncooked or undercooked egg yolks can carry viruses and bacteria, such as salmonella, which can cause food poisoning.
Symptoms and exposure
Sick animals shed the H5N1 virus through their saliva, mucus and feces, according to the CDC. Cows that are infected with bird flu shed H5N1 in their milk. People exposed to sick animals may inhale the virus or get in in their eyes, nose or mouth. Typical symptoms in people most commonly include eye redness and irritation and may include fever or feeling feverish, cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle or body aches, headache and fatigue. These symptoms can occur from other viral infections, too, including other flu and cold viruses.
While the CDC says the risk of the general public getting bird flu is low, screening of some people who are more likely to be exposed, such as dairy workers, is ongoing. Samples suspected of being bird flu are sent to the Illinois Department of Public Health for testing. In addition, the CDC is working on potential vaccines to protect against bird flu.
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