Bird Flu Alert: Essential Tips and Insights on the Emerging Threat

"Is it possible for avian influenza to turn into an air-transmissible disease?" "Specialists worry that avian influenza might become airborne -- potentially triggering yet another global health crisis." "In response to the bird flu outbreak, Waffle House has imposed additional charges on egg dishes." If these series of news articles regarding bird flu have made you feel uneasy, a new pandemic When the cost of your beloved average grits bowl increases, you might have queries regarding the H5N1 virus. However, let's clarify this right away: There's no reason to panic.

For starters, Dr. Shalika Katugaha The system medical director of Infectious Diseases at Baptist Health in Jacksonville, Florida, views the abundance of news articles on bird flu as quite positive. She believes this extensive coverage indicates that health organizations like the CDC and various medical authorities are performing well in collecting information, sharing it with both healthcare providers and the general public, and effectively managing the risk and transmission of the virus.

Considering this, here’s what you should understand regarding avian influenza.

Where does things stand with avian influenza in the U.S. at present?

H5N1, commonly referred to as avian influenza, is an influenza A virus that mainly impacts wild birds yet has the capability to transmit to various species such as poultry, farm animals, domestic pets, and people. The virus continues to be disseminated as wild birds comingle As reported by Axios, Katugaha states that the wild birds involved are waterfowl such as ducks and storks. There’s no reason to be concerned about the crows in your local grocery store parking lot (though perhaps remain typically cautious).

As per the CDC, there have been 70 confirmed cases Since the initial human case in March 2024, the virus has affected individuals, with reports indicating one fatality in January 2025. The Louisiana Department of Health has been monitoring this situation. states This person was "older than 65 years and had pre-existing health issues." They got infected with the virus due to their backyard chickens, which probably caught it from migratory birds.

Experts aren't concerned about the overall population's well-being since most people do not come into contact with wild birds, poultry, or livestock frequently. They point out that "every week we hear reports of additional cattle herds and poultry flocks being affected. The rate appears to have slowed down somewhat from what was seen last year, but the count of human infections remains fairly consistent over several months," they explain. Dr. Shira Doron , serving as the chief infection control officer for the Tufts Medicine Health System and as a member of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Task Force at the Infectious Disease Society of America.

"The present public health threat remains minimal; however, the CDC is closely monitoring the situation alongside state governments to track individuals exposed. This containment is possible as the disease isn’t currently spreading between humans. These are often the kinds of illnesses that can spiral into unmanageable proportions leading to pandemics,” Katugaha clarifies.

In which U.S. states has avian influenza been detected?

If you're interested in knowing which states are experiencing outbreaks — be it among their wild birds or on poultry farms — you can check that information out. on the CDC’s website (review under the "H5 Bird Flu Detections in USA" section).

The majority of individuals diagnosed with avian influenza were employees working on farms located in California, Washington, and Colorado. In eleven additional states, only one or two human cases have been documented, including Iowa, Michigan, and Louisiana As of the latest update from the CDC, 17 states have reported avian influenza outbreaks in their dairy cow populations.

Is it currently safe to consume milk?

On April 21, Reuters reported The FDA was set to "suspend a quality assurance program for testing fluid milk and other dairy products because of diminished capabilities within its food safety and nutrition division." This suspension encompassed both current initiatives and those under development aimed at detecting avian influenza in fluid milk and cheese. Following the extensive reduction in personnel during the Trump administration’s efforts to streamline the federal workforce—resulting in layoffs affecting approximately 20,000 workers from the Department of Health and Human Services, which includes the FDA—the agency could not maintain their usual level of testing with its remaining staffing levels. Reuters .

This raises the query: Is it possible to contract bird flu from consuming dairy milk? According to Doron, the real factor determining whether milk is safe lies in pasteurization, so there’s no need to steer clear of dairy items found at your local supermarket. "Individuals haven’t contracted this illness through food purchased at stores," she explains. "Pasteurization eliminates harmful organisms effectively, making regular store-bought milk perfectly fine, whereas raw milk poses risks." She refers to raw milk as a current trend that is particularly dangerous nowadays.

Is it possible to contract avian influenza from consuming eggs (or chicken, or turkey, or beef)?

No worries, you’ve got it right. "You won’t find it in eggs purchased at a grocery store. It’s possible to acquire it via unpasteurized milk or directly from animals on a farm. However, if you buy eggs from a grocery store, they undergo a cleaning procedure before reaching the shelves," according to Katugaha.

Will avian influenza become a pandemic?

Just like with any flu virus, the H5N1 strain has the potential to undergo mutations that would enable it to spread between people. A report from The New York Times indicates that the H5N1 virus "has acquired some of the necessary mutations to become airborne," although it remains uncertain whether or when these changes will progress sufficiently for person-to-person transmission. Though feasible, an avian influenza outbreak is not immediate, and there are currently no indications that the H5N1 strain is near achieving such transmissibility levels among humans.

Although the likelihood of avian influenza turning into a global outbreak remains small, Doron emphasizes that this underscores the critical importance of financing for monitoring and readiness. This support enables researchers to conduct genetic analysis of the virus and identify changes at an early stage, such as resistance to current antiviral drugs or the ability to spread between mammals.

"There’s always the possibility that any strain of avian influenza — and there are multiple strains — could turn into a pandemic. This is why we’re worried whenever we hear about reductions in monitoring and preparations for pandemics," she states.

Is avian influenza treatable?

Katugaha indicates that in an extremely improbable scenario where you or a loved one comes into contact with or catches avian influenza, you can use oseltamivir (also known as Tamiflu) for treatment. Should you believe there has been exposure, inform your physician immediately so they can issue the prescription promptly.

Preventing bird flu exposure

Most people won't have to take special actions to avoid contracting this illness because they can get exposed simply through interaction with birds. "Stay away from direct contact with wild birds when possible; watch them from afar instead," advises Katugaha. Also, keep your pets such as dogs and cats clear of wild birds too. Do not handle ill or deceased birds, their droppings, nor should you go near bodies of water—like ponds—that might carry contamination." does If you come into contact with wild birds or poultry — such as keeping backyard chickens or ducks — you should handle them using gloves and protective masks, she advises.

According to the CDC Bird flu resembles COVID-19 in many ways; it can range from being mild or even symptom-free for some individuals to quite serious. Keep an eye out for:

• Cough
• Eye redness (conjunctivitis)
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Headaches
• Slight flu-like symptoms affecting the upper respiratory system
• Muscle or body aches
• Pneumonia requiring hospitalization
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Breathlessness or trouble breathing
• Sore throat

There is no treatment For pets, as stated by the American Veterinary Medical Association, their bodies will have to combat the infection themselves. Should you reside in an area where avian influenza has been reported, keep an eye on your pet whenever they're outdoors. watch for signs of symptoms Doron points out that raw pet food could be a potential risk for animals catching avian influenza at present, hence opting for commercially produced alternatives would be advisable.

If you've recently had your attention diverted by global events, here's what you need to know about avian influenza. Health officials are monitoring the situation closely. Unless you're involved in agriculture or take care of poultry, chances are this virus won’t affect you or your loved ones directly.

Share this post