Bird flu, or avian influenza, is an illness caused by a virus that primarily spreads among birds but can sometimes infect humans and other animals. Below are answers to common questions about bird flu, its risks, and how to stay safe.  

See our other blog post for the latest updates on bird flu in Philadelphia and around the nation. 

Click on a topic for more information:

General information 

What is bird flu?

Bird flu — also called avian influenza — is caused by avian influenza A viruses that usually spread between birds, not people. Wild birds, like ducks and geese, are the main carriers. The virus is found in infected birds’ saliva, mucus, and feces. Other animals can also get bird flu. 

Human cases are rare, but they can occur if a person has direct, unprotected contact with infected animals or contaminated surfaces. People are exposed to the virus when it enters their eyes, nose, or mouth, or is inhaled.

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How it spreads 

How does bird flu spread?

The virus spreads through: 

  • Direct contact with infected birds or animals. 
  • Contaminated surfaces (such as farming equipment). 
  • Contaminated environments (such as bird markets). 

Currently, bird flu spreads between animals and from animals to people, but not between people.

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People at risk 

Am I at risk for bird flu?

If you work closely with infected sick or dead animals, your risk is higher. This includes: 

For the general public, the risk remains low. 

Why is bird flu still a concern if my risk is low?

Even though your risk of getting bird flu is low, the virus still has big effects on public health, the food supply, and the economy. It has killed many birds, causing egg and poultry prices to go up and putting stress on farmers.  

Bird flu viruses can also change over time. Right now, it isn’t spreading from person to person, but future mutations could make that possible. That’s why health experts are keeping a close watch and encouraging people to follow safety steps to lower the risk.

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Symptoms 

What are the symptoms of bird flu in humans?

Most cases have been mild. Even so, some people have been hospitalized, and one has died. 

Mild symptoms may include: 

  • Eye redness and irritation (conjunctivitis) – the most common symptom in the current outbreak.
  • Mild fever (100ºF or greater) or feeling feverish. 
  • Cough. 
  • Sore throat.
  • Runny or stuffy nose. 
  • Muscle or body aches. 
  • Headaches. 
  • Fatigue. 

Less common symptoms include diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. 

Moderate to severe symptoms may include: 

  • Any of the mild symptoms above that end up limiting or preventing your regular activity.
  • High fever. 
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. 
  • Difficulty staying awake or alert. 
  • Seizures. 

Complications like pneumonia can also result from severe illness. 

What are the symptoms of bird flu in animals?

Bird flu symptoms in animals vary, but they can include: 

  • Sudden death.
  • Weakness or lethargy.
  • Loss of appetite. 
  • Swelling around the head, neck, or eyes.
  • Diarrhea. 
  • Trouble breathing, like coughing. 
  • Unusual behavior or movement. 
  • Drop in egg production in chickens. 
  • Drop in milk production or abnormal milk consistency in dairy cows. 

Not all infected animals will have symptoms and some may look healthy.

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Prevention and vaccines 

How can I protect myself from bird flu?

The best way to prevent bird flu is to avoid exposure whenever possible. To lower your risk, follow these steps: 

  • Avoid touching sick or dead birds or other animals. Observe animals from a distance. 
  • Don’t touch surfaces or materials (like animal bedding) contaminated with saliva, mucus, or feces from infected birds or animals. 
  • Wear recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) – like a mask and gloves – if you have to be near or handle sick or dead animals.  
  • Avoid raw milk or raw milk products, especially from infected animals. Always choose pasteurized milk and products since pasteurization kills bacteria and viruses. 
  • Properly cook poultry, eggs, and beef to kill bacteria and viruses. All poultry should be cooked to 165⁰F, ground meat to 160⁰F, and whole cuts of meat to 145⁰F. Egg yolks and whites should be cooked until firm. 

Is there a vaccine for bird flu?

Currently, there’s no commercially available vaccine against bird flu viruses and no recommendation for people to get vaccinated against bird flu. The chance of getting bird flu for most people is low and the virus currently doesn’t spread between people, only from animals to people. When those at higher risk do get sick, they usually have mild to moderate symptoms. 

The annual flu vaccine also doesn’t protect against bird flu. But it’s still very important to get your flu shot, especially while the bird flu outbreak continues. Being protected against regular seasonal flu helps reduce your chance of being infected with both seasonal flu and bird flu at the same time. A double infection could make you very sick or even create a new combined flu virus. 

If a bird flu vaccine for people is needed in the future, they can be quickly and safely made using a process similar to how we make our annual flu vaccines.

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Contagious period 

If I was around a sick bird or animal or their environment, how long should I watch for symptoms?

You should watch for symptoms for 10 days after being around a sick bird or animal or their environment. Symptoms usually start within 2-7 days and eye redness usually develops after 1-2 days. However, it’s important to monitor yourself for the full 10 days. 

If you develop any symptoms, immediately contact your health care provider and let them know you were around a sick bird or animal or their environment. If you don’t have a health care provider, you can find one by calling the Health Department at 215-685-5488 or searching our primary care finder.

If I have bird flu, how long will I be sick?

Recovery time varies, but in general, bird flu can last a few days up to two weeks. If you’re severely ill and hospitalized, you can be sick for several weeks. 

If I have bird flu, how long will I be contagious to other people?  

Like regular seasonal flu, you’re probably most contagious during the first few days of feeling sick. If your case is severe and you’re hospitalized, you might spread the virus for several weeks since you’ll have more of the virus in your body. 

More research is needed to fully understand how long people can spread bird flu. 

If I was diagnosed with bird flu but have no symptoms, am I still contagious?

Even if you don’t have any symptoms, you can still spread bird flu to others. Health experts are closely monitoring the current outbreak to understand how common this is.

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Testing and treatment 

Can I get tested for bird flu?

You can get tested if you: 

  • Were recently exposed to infected birds or animals, and
  • Have symptoms. 

If you feel sick, contact your healthcare provider and mention any exposure to birds or animals. Testing works best in the first few days after symptoms start. 

How is bird flu treated in people?

Bird flu is treated with oseltamivir (Tamiflu). Treatment should begin as soon as possible, ideally within 48 hours after your symptoms began. You don’t need to wait for test results to start treatment. 

Also, you may be offered Tamiflu if you were exposed to infected animals and weren’t wearing the recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) like a mask and gloves, or your PPE ripped, even if you don’t have any symptoms.

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Pets and backyard birds 

Can my cat get bird flu?

Yes. Cats can get sick or die from bird flu. Several domestic and wild cats have died from drinking contaminated raw milk or eating other infected animals. 

To protect your cat: 

  • Keep your cat indoors to reduce contact with sick and dead birds or other sick and dead animals. 
  • Don’t give your cat raw milk or raw pet food. These often contain viruses and bacteria that can make your cat sick, include the bird flu virus. 

How can I keep my chickens safe?

Backyard chickens can get very sick and die from bird flu. To protect them and yourself:  

  • Keep chickens away from wild birds. 
  • Store food and water in covered areas and change water at least once a day. 
  • Wear separate clothes and shoes when caring for chickens and remove them before entering your home. 
  • Wash hands thoroughly after handling birds or their environment and avoid touching your face.  
  • Watch for signs of illness and separate sick birds immediately. 
  • If handling sick birds, their droppings or litter, wear personal protective equipment (PPE) like disposable gloves, an N95 respirator, and protective clothing. Dispose of PPE properly and wash hands thoroughly. 

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Reporting sick or dead birds 

Who should I call if I find a sick or dead bird?

Avoid touching sick, injured, or dead birds or animals unless absolutely necessary. 

Wild birds:  

  • Call the Pennsylvania Game Commission at 1-833-PGC-WILD (742-9453) or email pgc-wildlifehealth@pa.gov. The Game Commission may come out to collect the bird. However, they receive hundreds of calls and can’t always respond in person.  
  • You may want to remove the dead bird if you haven’t heard back from the Game Commission within 24 hours or if it’s in a spot where people or animals might touch it. 

Domestic birds, like backyard chickens:  

  • Call the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture at 717-772-2852, option 1. 

What if I need to remove a dead bird or animal?

The safest thing you can do is to avoid touching sick, injured or dead birds or animals. However, there may be times when you may need to remove a dead bird or animal, including if it’s in a spot where people or animals might touch it and no one else can get rid of it. =

If you must remove a dead bird or animal, follow these steps: 

  • Wear gloves (or use a plastic bag over your hand). 
  • Wear a mask (N95 or KN94 is best). 
  • If burying: Dig a hole at least 2 feet deep. Don’t bury the animal where it could contaminate a water supply. 
  • If disposing in trash: Double bag the bird and any gloves used. 
  • Afterward, immediately wash your hands and clothes. Keep your clothes in a plastic bag if you can’t wash them right away.

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Visit the Health Department’s blog post for the latest updates on bird flu in Philadelphia and around the nation.