H5N1 Bird Flu

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1), also known as H5N1 or bird flu, is a viral disease that primarily infects poultry (e.g., chickens, turkey, ducks), wild birds and U.S dairy cows.

H5N1 bird flu spreads to humans when enough virus gets into a person’s eyes, nose, or mouth or is inhaled from an infected bird or animal. There is no evidence of sustained person-to-person spread of H5 bird flu.

Key Points

• H5N1 bird flu is widespread in wild birds worldwide and is causing outbreaks in poultry and U.S. dairy cows with several recent human cases in U.S. dairy and poultry workers.
• As of Jan. 7, 2025, there have been 67 human cases in the U.S. and 1 confirmed death in Louisiana.
• Almost all cases reported have been in individuals with direct exposure to sick dairy cows or sick poultry in massive industrial operations.
• The risk to the public is considered low.
• There has been no person-to-person spread of H5N1 bird flu to date.

What is H5N1 Bird Flu?

• H5 bird flu is a viral disease that primarily infects poultry (e.g., chickens, turkey, ducks) especially wild birds and U.S dairy cows.
• H5 bird flu is particularly contagious in bird populations and has resulted in the deaths of millions of birds in the United States.
• No person-to-person spread of H5 bird flu has been detected.

How is it spread?

• Infected birds and other animals can spread the virus through their mucous, saliva or feces (poop).
• People rarely get bird flu, but when they do, it’s most often through direct unprotected contact (not wearing recommended personal protective equipment, PPE) with infected birds or other infected animals.
• H5N1 bird flu spreads to humans when enough virus gets into a person’s eyes, nose, or mouth or is inhaled from an infected bird or animal.
• There is no evidence of sustained person-to-person spread of H5 bird flu.

Who is at risk?

• People who work with infected animals including poultry, cows, wild animals, or with raw, unpasteurized cow’s milk are at increased risk of infection.
• Poultry and livestock workers, backyard flock owners, hunters and other bird enthusiasts are at greatest risk.
• Federal, state and local veterinary and public health officials are working together to protect livestock, farms, and communities from H5N1 bird flu.

While the risk of H5 bird flu is low, everyone should take the following precautions:

• Avoid contact with poultry, wild birds, and other animals that appear ill or are dead, as well as contact with surfaces that may have been contaminated with their feces.
• Avoid uncooked or undercooked poultry, meat, and eggs.
• Avoid raw milk. The CDC recommends people should not eat or drink raw milk or products made with raw milk. Choosing pasteurized is the best way to keep you and your family safe. Pasteurized milk has been treated to kill harmful bacteria.
• Cook poultry, meat, and eggs to the right internal temperature to kill bacteria and viruses, including H5 viruses.
• Wash your hands and surfaces thoroughly before and after handling poultry, meat, and eggs.
• To reduce the spread, those with known exposure to H5NI bird flu-infected birds or other animals should isolate themselves away from others and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen.
  • People who work with or have recreational exposures to infected animal populations, maintain backyard birds/poultry, and engage in hunting should consider taking these additional protections:
    • Wear personal protective equipment (PPE):
      • Disposable outer garments with long sleeves and a sealed apron.
      • Disposable gloves or heavier work gloves that can be disinfected.
      • Properly-fitted high filtration respirator masks such as N95s, KN95s, and KF94s.
      • Safety goggles and disposable head coverings.
      • Disposable shoe covers or boots that can be cleaned and disinfected.
    • Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub after contact with birds and mammals.
    • Avoid touching your skin with gloved hands.

What are the symptoms?

• H5N1 bird flu symptoms are similar to the seasonal influenza virus: Fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, eye infections, difficulty breathing, pneumonia, and severe respiratory disease.
• If you have had close and/or sustained unprotected contact with infected birds or animals or their contaminated environments, monitor for these symptoms for 10 days after your last exposure.

What if I get sick?

• If you have these symptoms, speak with your healthcare provider about treatment and the length of your at-home isolation before returning to your normal activities. The same diagnostic tools that are used to detect and treat seasonal influenza viruses like the flu can also detect and treat H5N1 bird flu.

For Healthcare Providers Reporting H5NI Bird Flu

• Healthcare providers that test for H5N1 should report all positive cases to their local health department. Providers treating positive cases living in suburban Cook County, please call the CCDPH Communicable Disease Unit at 708-836-8699.
• If calling after hours (4:30 PM to 8:30 AM) call: 708-836-8600 , Option 2, to report an urgent communicable disease matter.

Is It Still Safe to Consume Milk, Egg and Beef Products?

• There is no evidence that people can get bird flu from food that’s been properly prepared and cooked. It is safe to eat eggs, chicken and beef, and drink pasteurized milk.
• On April 24, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that traces of H5N1 bird flu had been detected in about 20 percent of milk samples from U.S. grocery stores, and reemphasized that the commercial milk supply of pasteurized milk is still safe for consumption.
• The pasteurization process inactivates harmful bacteria and viruses, which means that the found traces of H5 bird flu are not live or infectious virus. Many studies have shown that pasteurization is effective at inactivating similar influenza viruses.
• According to experts, finding traces of the virus in this percentage indicates that the H5 bird flu outbreak in cows is larger than originally thought. USDA has announced mandatory testing for bird flu for any dairy cows moving across state lines. Only milk from healthy animals is authorized to be sold, and pasteurization is required for any milk entering interstate commerce.
• FDA will continue to monitor the milk supply and has cautioned against the consumption of raw or unpasteurized milk or milk products.
• Additionally, to keep the beef supply safe, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has conducted testing of ground beef samples from retail outlets in states where cows have tested positive for the virus.
• To date, no H5 virus has been found in any of the tested samples. Testing will continue and only meat that has passed USDA inspection can be sold in U.S. stores and restaurants.

Can H5 Bird Flu Affect my Domestic Pet?

• Domestic animals, cats and dogs, can get H5N1 if they contact (usually eat) a dead or sick bird or even its droppings. The current cow outbreak revealed another infection pathway: unpasteurized milk. Fifty percent of cats that drink raw milk died.

Are Bird Feeders Safe?

• Birds that gather at feeders (like cardinals, sparrow and bluebirds) do not typically carry the virus. The USDA does not recommend removing backyard bird feeders for H5N1 prevention unless you also care for poultry. The less contact between wild birds and poultry by removing sources of food water and shelter, the better.