You’ve probably heard about it on the news: The bird flu is causing concern.
While the current public health risk is low, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working with local health experts and watching the situation carefully.
Nicholas R. Sells, MD, FACP, FIDSA
“The key message is that people should not be worried. We believe the risk to the population is low,” says Nicholas R. Sells, MD, FACP, FIDSA, Medical Director of Infection Prevention, Mount Sinai Morningside, and Associate Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul delivered the same message—that there was no public health threat—when she recently ordered the temporary closure of bird poultry markets in New York City to allow for special cleaning and inspections.
Here are five key takeaways to keep you updated on the bird flu, also known as avian influenza.
Why the risk to the public is low: Bird flu, which has circulated for decades, is now widespread in wild birds worldwide and is causing outbreaks in poultry and dairy cows in the United States. There have been several recent human cases among dairy and poultry workers. The risk to the general public is low because the current strain of this virus cannot easily spread from person to person, experts say.
Eggs, chicken, and milk: News about the bird flu has prompted some questions among the general public, and experts like Dr. Sells are emphasizing that it is safe to eat eggs and chicken, and drink pasteurized milk that you buy in the store. That’s because the bird flu is not transmissible by eating properly prepared and cooked poultry and eggs. Proper cooking and pasteurization kills the bird flu virus and other dangerous microbes. Milk and infant formula you buy in the store are also safe for infants and children, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
What the experts are doing: The CDC is using its flu surveillance systems to monitor for bird flu activity in people. According to the CDC, flu viruses change over time, so there is a risk the virus could be become more easily spread among people. At Mount Sinai, epidemiologists have been in touch with the CDC and the New York State and New York City health departments and have alerted health care providers through the Health System to be on the lookout for patients who may show signs of infection and to review their protocols for testing if needed. The reported signs and symptoms of bird flu virus infections in humans have ranged from no symptoms or mild to severe and include eye redness, fever, cough, and sore throat.
Here’s what you can do: Avoid contact with sick or dead wild birds, poultry and other animals, including dairy cows. Do not touch or consume raw milk or raw milk products or feed them to pets. Cook poultry, eggs and beef to the appropriate internal temperatures.
What about my pets? Bird flu viruses mainly infect wild migratory water birds and domestic poultry. Some bird flu viruses can spread to other animals. Cats and dogs could potentially eat or be exposed to sick or dead birds infected with bird flu viruses, and they could become infected. If your pet is showing signs of illness of a bird flu infection and has been exposed to infected (sick or dead) wild birds/poultry, you should monitor your health for signs of fever or infection. According to the CDC, it is unlikely you can get sick with bird flu from your infected pet, but it is possible.
