It’s all over the news, and it’s a scary way to start the New Year; human bird flu cases are being confirmed across the United States, resulting in one reported death so far.
If you’ve been paying attention to the news regarding bird flu, you may have several questions: what is bird flu, exactly? Should I be worried? Will it be like COVID-19 and cause another pandemic? The answers are more simple than you’d think.
Avian influenza, or bird flu, is a viral infection in birds caused by the influenza virus. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the most common type of bird flu to affect humans is influenza A(H5), and one of its subtypes, A(H5N1). Bird flu most commonly affects birds but can also spread to cows or humans. Currently, in the U.S., there are 67 confirmed human cases of the H5 bird flu and one confirmed death. But should students at ETSU be worried about contracting it? To put it simply, no.
The most common way humans get bird flu is through contact with an infected animal’s saliva, respiratory droplets, feces or milk. Additionally, bird flu is rarely contagious between humans with only a few instances of the virus mutating and spreading between two people. In most situations, the people who are most likely to contract bird flu are those who work with poultry, ducks or geese and cows, or those who keep a backyard flock of chickens.
If you’re worried about getting bird flu from eating eggs or drinking milk– don’t be. If you’re drinking pasteurized (not raw) milk and eating fully cooked eggs, you’ll be fine, as commercial farms with animals who test positive for bird flu take them out of the human food supply.
Additionally, if you’re at a park or lake that has a population of geese or ducks, and you see a bird who looks sick or is dead, report it to the authorities. In Tennessee, you can report any dead or sick birds to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The link to report sick or dead birds can be found by visiting www.tn.gov/twra/sick-birds. While bird flu is not on track to become the next COVID-19, it’s important to stay vigilant and be careful if you’re interacting with chickens or cows to prevent yourself, and others, from getting sick.
