By: Robert W. Frenck Jr., MD, FAAP
Birds in the United States can be affected by avian flu (also called bird flu or avian influenza). But can it affect your family?
Here's what parents should know.
What causes bird flu?
Bird flu is caused by
avian influenza type A viruses, including the avian flu type A(H5N1) that is the most recent strain circulating in our country. The virus is known to infect birds around the world.
Is bird flu spreading in the United States?
Sometimes, wild birds spread the virus and cause outbreaks on poultry farms. In January 2022, it was found in wild birds in our country for the first time since 2016. Several states have since reported bird flu in poultry flocks and wild birds. In the past few years, tens of millions of chickens were
removed from farms where the virus was detected. This affected the egg supply and caused a big increase in the price of eggs.
Does bird flu only make birds sick?
Bird flu is common in wild birds—especially wild waterfowl like ducks and geese. It is spread easily by infected birds that carry the virus in their saliva, nasal secretions and droppings (feces).
When sick birds fly overhead, the virus can spread through their droppings to farms and backyard pens. If your family keeps birds as backyard pets or on small hobby farms, they are also at risk.
Other animals can get bird flu, too. Wildlife and domestic livestock that are exposed to the viruses can become infected.
In March 2024, bird flu was identified in dairy cattle in
several states. It is the first time that this virus has been found in cows. Public health experts are watching the outbreaks and infections very closely.
Can people get bird flu?
In very rare cases, bird flu can
spread to humans. A concern about bird flu is that a strain could change and infect people and spread easily among them. That has not happened yet, but there have been two cases of bird flu in people reported in the United States since 2022.
In March 2024, a person in
Texas tested positive for "highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1)" virus bird flu. That person worked with dairy cows that were presumably infected with bird flu. This would be the first time that the virus has spread from a cow to a person.
In 2022, a person was infected while working closely with birds. They had very mild symptoms and recovered.
Health experts continue to
watch for any changes in how the virus spreads.
What are the symptoms of bird flu in people?
In people,
signs and symptoms of bird flu can include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, pneumonia, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, acute respiratory distress, respiratory failure, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting and sometimes neurologic changes (altered mental status, seizures).
Will the flu vaccine protect me from bird flu?
Seasonal flu vaccination will not prevent infection with bird flu viruses. The
annual influenza vaccine protects against three strains that are most widely circulating in humans. The risk of kids—or adults—getting seasonal influenza is much greater, which is why annual influenza vaccination is recommended for everyone age 6 months and older.
Can bird flu spread through chicken or dairy products?
You cannot get bird flu from eating fully cooked domestic or wild poultry products like chicken, turkey or duck.
There is no evidence that the flu can be spread through pasteurized dairy products.
What to know about raw milk products
Raw milk can harbor dangerous microorganisms, such as
Salmonella,
Escherichia coli, and
Listeria, that can pose serious health risks. Pasteurization is a process that kills harmful bacteria by heating milk to a specific temperature for a set period.
Public health experts keep a close watch for bird flu outbreaks on farms to make sure our food supply is safe. People who work in the livestock industry also follow safety steps to protect themselves and others in case they have close contact with sick animals.
Are eggs safe to eat?
Cooking eggs will kill any virus or bacteria, so they are
safe to eat. The germs that can make us sick are found on the eggshell.
Salmonella,
Campylobacter and other germs get on the egg shell from bird poop. Poultry often carry these germs. (That's why health experts advise us to avoid eating raw eggs and avoid licking the bowl when we make cake or cookie batter!)
What about eggs from backyard chickens?
Eggs from the grocery store are washed before they are put into their cartons.
If your family has backyard poultry, be sure to
clean eggs carefully with fine sandpaper, a brush, or a cloth to remove germs from their shells. Don't wash warm, fresh eggs because colder water can pull germs into the egg through tiny pores in the shell. Other healthy steps include keeping a clean coop, collecting eggs often and throwing away cracked eggs you collect.
Remember
In general, birds carry a lot of diseases besides bird flu. The best way to avoid getting sick is to make sure that children
wash their hands with soap and water after being around any bird or bird droppings.
Supervise children around birds and remind them not to rub their eyes or touch their nose or mouth while handling birds or bird feces. Tell your child not to touch, handle or move a sick or dead bird. They should let an adult know, so that it can be reported.
More information
About Dr. Frenck
Robert W. Frenck Jr, MD, FAAP, is board-certified in pediatrics and pediatric infectious diseases and chair of the AAP Section on Infectious Diseases. He practices at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and is a professor of pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati.
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