Bird Flu

Also called: Avian Flu, Avian Influenza

You may have heard about cases of bird flu lately in the news, but there’s no reason to panic. Bird flu is uncommon in the United States, and people are unlikely to catch it as long as they take precautions.

Here’s what you need to know about bird flu and how to keep your family safe.

What Is Bird Flu?

Bird flu is a form of the flu (influenza) virus that usually infects birds and other animals. It’s not the same as the flu that many people get during cold-weather months, but it can cause similar symptoms. There are different strains (kinds) of bird flu; a common strain is H5N1 or H5.

How Does Bird Flu Spread?

Wild birds — like ducks, geese, swans, and crows — can spread bird flu to birds on poultry farms and cows on dairy farms. Other animals have gotten infected too. While people who work with animals that have bird flu are more likely to get it, the risk for other people to become infected is low.

Bird flu spreads through an animal’s saliva (spit), mucus, milk, pee, or poop. These can get on an animal’s feathers or skin, in their cages, or on nearby items like farm equipment. When people touch tiny droplets or specks that have the virus and then touch their eyes, nose, or mouth, they can get infected. They can also get infected by breathing in the droplets or dust that’s contaminated.

Sometimes bird flu can spread by eating undercooked eggs or poultry, like chicken or turkey, or by having raw milk from animals, like cows, infected with the virus.

At this time, it’s rare for bird flu to spread from person to person.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Bird Flu?

Bird flu can appear like other flu viruses, and symptoms include:

fever
conjunctivitis (pinkeye)
cough or sore throat
stuffy or runny nose
body aches or headache
lack of energy
nausea and vomiting
diarrhea

Severe bird flu may cause a person to have trouble breathing or a high fever, feel confused, develop seizures, and even die.

How Is Bird Flu Diagnosed?

To check for bird flu, doctors will take a sample of mucus by wiping a cotton swab inside the nose or throat. If your child has pinkeye, they may swab the eye. The samples are sent to a lab for testing.

Be sure to tell your doctor if your child has been near any animals and has symptoms of bird flu.

How Is Bird Flu Treated?

Doctors may prescribe antiviral medicine for bird flu, and it works best if children start taking it when symptoms first start. Kids with more serious symptoms are treated in the hospital.

For children with mild symptoms, at-home care may help them feel better as they recover. Make sure your child drinks lots of liquids to prevent dehydration, gets plenty of sleep, and takes it easy. Kids might feel hot or cold, so have them wear layers that are easy to remove. For fever and aches, you can give acetaminophen or ibuprofen, but avoid aspirin because it’s linked to Reye syndrome.

To avoid spreading the virus to other people, your child should stay home from school or daycare — ask your doctor for how long.

Can Bird Flu Be Prevented?

There’s no vaccine for bird flu, but scientists are working on one to prevent people from getting the virus. Health officials in many countries are taking steps to help prevent bird flu from spreading.

To help keep your family healthy:

Avoid touching birds. Watch them from far away. If you plan to travel somewhere there’s been an outbreak of bird flu, stay away from live bird markets, poultry farms, or any other places where there might be infected poultry. Check with agencies like the CDC for travel updates.
Wash hands often when going to places like farms, petting zoos, or ponds that have birds. Also, take your shoes off before stepping inside your home to avoid bringing in germs.
Have your family wear gloves, masks, and goggles when working near wild animals, birds, cattle, and other livestock. Make sure everyone washes their hands and changes clothes afterward.
Report animals that may be sick with bird flu or died from it. Call your state health department and stay away from anything the animal touched.
Cook poultry, eggs, meat, and seafood to the right temperature to destroy any flu viruses in raw or undercooked food. Be sure to use different cutting boards and utensils (like forks, knives, spoons, and chopsticks) for uncooked meats and other foods. Wash hands before and after eating.
Avoid touching or having raw dairy products, like raw milk. Choose ones that have been pasteurized (heated to kill the bird flu virus and other germs) by checking the food label.
Get a flu shot. It won’t prevent bird flu, but it can help your child stay healthy by avoiding the seasonal flu. That way, there’s less chance of getting the two flus at the same time.

Can My Bird or Other Pets Get Bird Flu?

Birds and other pets may get bird flu if they go near another animal that has the virus. Making sure your pets are safe helps keep your family healthy, too. So follow these tips:

Keep your pet bird and its food and water inside, away from anyplace where it could be exposed to an infected animal. Avoid letting your pet drink or eat from ponds or other places where wild birds may have flown over and spread the virus.
Clean the birdcage often. Wash your hands right away and after handling the bird or touching its poop.
Try to make sure any birds on your property (like those in a chicken coop) stay away from wild birds. To be extra safe, wear a mask when you're near your birds.
Prevent other pets (like cats and dogs) from getting near wild birds, raw meat and poultry, and raw milk so they don’t get infected.

If you have a bird feeder, clean any surfaces that bird poop has touched and wash your hands.

The United States and other countries have stopped importing live birds and bird products (like meat and eggs) from countries where there have been outbreaks of bird flu. So if you buy a pet bird, it should not have been exposed to the virus.

Still, there is an illegal market for buying and selling exotic birds and other animals. Before you buy any animal as a pet, find out where it was born and raised. If you have more questions, talk with a veterinarian.