Health Alert: Preventing Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Infection
Young Ju, Ph.D.
You may have heard about bird flu in the news lately. Having just gone through a pandemic of Covid, we are right to be concerned and aware of other potential health risks to the community. Here are some answers to questions you may have about the severity and risk of infection as well as some health resources that are available to you.
What is Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)? (1, 2)
Avian influenza (aka bird flu) refers to illnesses caused by different flu viruses. There are two main forms of the virus: low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) and HPAI. LPAI is mild in birds, while HPAI (also called Avian influenza A) is much more serious in birds and livestock. There are six main subtypes of avian influenza viruses, two of which can infect people and cause acute respiratory illness.
HPAI viruses in the U.S. were first detected in 2022 and have continued to reappear in fall and winter. In late 2024, HPAI was found in many states in the U.S. As recently as January of this year, HPAI viruses have been detected in wild birds, poultry, and dairy cows and as of January 6, 2025, there have been 66 confirmed human cases of H5N1 bird flu and 1 human death in the US since 2024.
Can I get HPAI from eating poultry, or eggs? (2,3)
The short answer is no. HPAI is not transmissible when eating properly prepared poultry and eggs and following basic food handling practices:
Wash hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds after handling raw poultry and eggs.
Prevent cross-contamination by separating raw poultry and eggs from other foods–use separate utensils, plates, and cutting boards for different foods.
After cutting raw meat, wash your cutting board, knife, and countertops with hot soapy water and sanitize cutting boards by using a solution of 1 tablespoon bleach in 1 gallon of water.
Use a food thermometer to make sure poultry has reached the safe internal temperature of at least 165 °F to kill bacteria and viruses.
Choose pasteurized milk and milk products.
Do not prepare or eat uncooked or undercooked food, such as unpasteurized milk or cheese from animals with confirmed or suspected HPAI infection. There are no safety concerns with the commercial milk and milk products.
Can HPAI spread from infected animals to people? (1, 2, 3)
Yes. Human infections can occur when the virus gets into a person’s eyes, nose or mouth or is inhaled, i.e., if a person touches something with the HPAI virus on it and then touches his/her mouth, eyes, or nose.
What are the signs and symptoms of HPAI infection?
Symptoms of bird flu virus in a person can range from no symptoms to many and severe including conjunctivitis (pink eye), flu-like upper respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, and pneumonia requiring hospitalization.
People exposed (or suspected to be exposed) to infected birds or animals should monitor themselves for illness symptoms for 10 days after last exposure. Those who may have contact with birds or other infected/potentially infected animals include hunters, farmers, people with backyard flocks, zookeepers, and pet owners, etc.
What is the primary treatment for HPAI infection in humans?
Antiviral medication treatment is available. Ideally, it is recommended to get the antiviral medication within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms to reduce the severity and prevent complications. For severe cases, hospitalization and other treatments (such as antibiotics and antifungal medications) may be needed.
Can HPAI spread person-to-person? (2)
No. HPAI viruses do not spread from person-to-person. But if the virus mutates, it could become transmissible between people.
What should we do to prevent HPAI infection? (1, 2, 3)
In addition to practicing good food safety and hygiene, avoid unprotected exposures to sick or dead animals including wild birds, poultry, other domesticated birds, wild or domesticated animals, animal carcasses, raw milk, feces, or any contaminated (confirmed or suspected) materials.
If you need to make direct or close contact, use personal protection equipment (safety goggles, disposable gloves, boots or boot covers, respirators, etc.)
Keep your pets away from wild birds and poultry, and do not feed them raw meat or unpasteurized milk.
Report dead or sick animals in your area: State and local governments have different policies for collecting dead and sick animals, so check with your state health department, state veterinary diagnostic laboratory, or state wildlife agency for information.
Resources and Recommendations:
While the current public health risk for HPAI infection is low at this time, and the chances of infected poultry entering the food chain are extremely low, it is recommended to follow preventive measures and stay informed.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been carefully monitoring HPAI bird flu activity in humans using the flu surveillance systems. You can check the current situation in your state here: (https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html#:~:text=Total%20people%20monitored%20and%20total,infections%20in%20the%20United%20States ).
If you have questions about the safe storage, handling, or preparation of meat, poultry, and egg products, the following resources are available to you:
You can call the USDA Meat & Poultry Hotline at: 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854).
You can use “Ask Karen" at www.fsis.usda.gov. The Food Safety and Inspection Service virtual representative is available 24 hours a day to answer your questions.
Dr. Young Ju is a Ph.D and Associate Professor of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise at Virginia Tech.
References
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influence. https://www.epa.gov/agriculture/highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Avian Influenza (Bird Flu). https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/index.html
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Investigation of Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus in Dairy Cattle. https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/investigation-avian-influenza-h5n1-virus-dairy-cattle#:~:text=The%20FDA%20and%20USDA%20co,raw%20milk%20100%20years%20ago.
This information is provided for your reference and you use at your own risk; you should rely on your medical professional for medical advice.
