There has been a buzz online about Bird Flu in recent weeks as outbreaks in wild birds spread across the country. In 2024, outbreaks of Avian Influenza, also known as Bird Flu or H5N1, occurred in poultry, dairy cattle, wild mammals, and captive mammals. Since March of 2024, there are 63 confirmed human cases of Bird. Thankfully, in humans, Bird Flu is deemed a low public health concern. This does not mean your risk of contracting it is close to zero; if you farm poultry or cattle, work in veterinary medicine, work in healthcare, or hunt, you are at a significantly increased risk of contracting Bird Flu (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). As of January 12th, one person has died from Bird Flu and two domestic cats are suspected to have died from Bird Flu, according to WDSU News in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Bird Flu can have a high pathogenicity, meaning it can make people and animals severely ill if contracted. This version of Bird Flu is referred to as HPAI or High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza. Bird Flu is a subtype of the Influenza A virus, which is the same influenza subtype as the H1N1 “Swine Flu” virus (“Avian Influenza”). Bird Flu is spread primarily by wild birds and infects domesticated poultry, dairy cows, humans, and domestic cats. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Although the rate of transmission from domestic cats to humans is low, it is still possible, especially if you have outdoor cats (University of Maryland). Bird Flu enters your system if you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth after touching an infected animal or person. It is also spread through breathing in viral particles when close to infected animals or people. Bodily fluids from an infected animal or person are what spreads the virus.
As of December 2024, there is a low spread of Bird Flu from person to person, so it is a low public health concern. Despite this, there is an outbreak across multiple states in dairy cattle, wild mammals, and wild birds, which can spread Bird Flu to cats, poultry, and people. Wild birds and mammals across the United States are infected, largely sparing the Southeastern U.S. (United States Department of Agriculture). If you consume poultry or dairy products, be sure to thoroughly cook these products to physically break down the virus so it is no longer infectious.
How Bird Flu affects people is similar to other viral infections. If you experience a headache, coughing, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, fever, chills, a runny nose, muscle/joint aches, and fatigue after interacting with an exposed person or animal, it is likely you contracted the virus (Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention). Currently, this collection of symptoms without being exposed to an infected person or animal does not mean that you contracted bird flu with absolute certainty. Regardless, washing your hands frequently and wearing protective equipment when hunting or working with animals is extremely important.
To prevent Bird Flu, get the yearly flu vaccine (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), do not consume raw dairy products, and avoid contact with wild birds and animals (Main Center for Disease Control and Prevention). If you farm or hunt, use personal protective equipment (PPE) when interacting with animals. The suggested PPE for a high likelihood of exposure includes gloves, long-sleeve, water-resistant coveralls, boot covers, goggles, and an N95 mask or another stronger respirator (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). If infected, monitor your symptoms for 10 days and wear PPE when interacting with other people or animals (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). If you still experience symptoms after 10 days, continue to monitor them.
Stay safe as Bird Flu and other respiratory viruses increase in transmission this cold and flu season.
Works Cited
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, June 21). H5N1 Bird Flu: Current Situation. Avian Influenza (Bird Flu); CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html
Jonel Aleccia. (2025, January 12). California man says two of his cats died after drinking raw milk recalled for bird flu. WDSU News New Orleans; National Broadcasting Company. https://www.wdsu.com/article/california-man-says-two-of-his-cats-died-after-drinking-raw-milk-recalled-for-bird-flu/63402489
Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Avian Influenza and People - MeCDC; DHHS Maine. MaineFlu.gov; Maine.gov. Retrieved December 31, 2024, from https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/influenza/maineflu/avian-flu.shtml
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2017). Avian Flu General Precautions. U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/avian_flu_general_precautions.pdf
United States Department of Agriculture. (2024a, December 23). HPAI Detections in Mammals. Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Mammals; USDA. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/mammals
United States Department of Agriculture. (2024b, December 23). HPAI Detections in Wild Birds. Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wild Birds; USDA. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/wild-birds
University of Maryland School of Public Health. (2024, June 14). Researcher Warns Pet Cats Risk Getting Bird Flu and Possibly Infecting People | University of Maryland | School of Public Health. News - School of Public Health; University of Maryland. https://sph.umd.edu/news/researcher-warns-pet-cats-risk-getting-bird-flu-and-possibly-infecting-people
Wikipedia Contributors. (2020, April 14). H5N1 genetic structure. Influenza a Virus; Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H5N1_genetic_structure