Both the bird flu and egg prices are rising, so here is information on how to keep safe.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) details that the H5 bird flu is widespread in wild birds worldwide resulting in outbreaks in poultry and US dairy cows. This has resulted in several human cases in United States dairy and poultry workers. The CDC reassures that the public health risk is low however they are carefully watching the situation and working with states to monitor people with their exposure to animals. The CDC is using its flu surveillance systems to monitor activity within people. There is currently no person-to-person spread documented. The current public health risk is low, with 70 cases in the US reported and only one death reported. The CDC detailed the cases with 41 coming from dairy herds, specifically cattle and 24 coming from poultry farms and operations. Two of these cases have come from other animal exposure and three have an unknown source. The CDC adds one additional case was previously detected in a poultry worker in Colorado in 2022 and Louisiana was the first state to report the first H5 bird flu death in the US. The cases spread around the US with the majority of cases being found in the western half of America.
The CDC reports since Feb. 25, 2024, from the national flu surveillance there have been more than 136,134 specimens tested that would help detect influenza A (H5) or other influenza viruses. Six cases have been detected through this. Further surveillance has been investigated for H5, since March 24, 2024, with a total of 15,200 people monitored after exposure to infected animals and more than 830 people tested after their exposure to infected animals. The CDC explained that 64 human cases were detected through targeted H5 surveillance.
The figures currently stand at 12,064 wild birds detected as of Feb. 18, 2025, with 51 jurisdictions with bird flu in wild birds. The CDC also reported that there have been 162,801,168 poultry affected as of Feb. 21, 2025, in 51 jurisdictions with outbreaks in poultry. CDC reported that there have been 973 dairy herds affected as of Feb. 21, 2025, following 16 states with outbreaks in dairy cows.
The CDC gave outlines as to who is at an increased risk, which includes farmers and workers who work with infected animals or their byproducts and backyard bird flock owners. Also, animal care workers, such as veterinarians, wild animal facility workers and animal health and public health responders.
The CDC reported that influenza A(H5N1) has been in the United States since 2014, but spreading in wild birds globally since the mid-1990s, initially spreading to commercial and backyard poultry. CDC added that the strain has also infected mammals, including sea lions and now dairy cattle. Although there have been occasional human cases in the United States and other countries, that is limited human-to-human transmission of this disease reported globally. The CDC reassures the public that transmission outside of the household would be of greater concern than within a household when assessing a public health risk. The CDC reassures the public that they will continue to rapidly analyze and share genetic sequences of samples from human cases alongside those of infected animals. This would explore the changes that would allow the virus to spread more easily, particularly affecting humans, reported CDC.
The CDC added that most of the H5N1 bird flu cases within the United States have resulted in mild symptoms. However, the severity of the illness can be impacted by a range of factors which include how long a person was sick and how quickly they received medical care or a combination of these factors and more.
The CDC advised that to avoid the bird flu people should avoid direct contact with wild birds and other animals potentially infected or suspected to be infected. If you must have direct or close contact with wild birds, you should wear personal protective equipment. Furthermore, you should not touch surfaces or materials, such as bedding material contaminated with potential saliva, mucus, or animal feces from any type of bird with confirmed or suspected influenza A virus infection. You should not consume or touch raw milk or raw milk products, especially from animals with confirmed or suspected influenza A virus infection.
Emily Landon, MD, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Chicago Medicine reassures the public that unless you are around livestock or sick birds, you do not need to panic. Landon called this a “watch and wait situation” and she does not foresee this becoming a global health emergency. Unlike during the COVID-19 outbreak, health officials now know how to control the spread of diseases and can produce influenza vaccines more easily.
Landon added to help prevent exposure you need to ensure you cook your eggs or poultry items longer than normal. The CDC gives guidelines on how to do this successfully. You can also get your human influenza vaccine and can help prevent pets from the flu. The CDC warns against giving them raw milk or unpasteurized dairy products or raw pet food. Pets can also receive the vaccine to increase their safety.
