Avian influenza, or bird flu, is nothing new. This virus has been around for decades, spreading through migratory birds worldwide. Humans have been contracting bird flu for years, and though a few strains could be dangerous to humans, most forms of the virus cause only mild illness.
Jason Kessler, MD, an infectious disease specialist with Atlantic Health System, shares what you need to know about these viruses and how to stay safe.
Is bird flu dangerous?
Bird flu viruses are not all dangerous. However, some strains can easily spread and cause severe illness in birds. Some of these viruses are also making their way into other host animals, including domestic dairy cows.
Some of the anxiety over bird flu is that influenza viruses are known to mutate easily. Most of these changes are not harmful, but occasionally mutations can lead to shifts in the way the virus functions — including causing more severe illness in humans.
“Fortunately, we haven’t seen these viruses take on a form that makes them easily transmittable from human to human and most cases we have seen in humans have been extremely mild,” says Dr. Kessler.
In fact, one of the most notable symptoms of the current strains of bird flu is relatively mild conjunctivitis (pink eye), which doesn’t typically present in other forms of flu. It also seems like medications used for seasonal influenza are effective in treating and even preventing these strains of bird flu.
Who is at risk of bird flu?
The people with the highest risk of developing a bird flu infection are those who are directly handling infected animals. Those at risk of severe illness are the same who are at risk of severe seasonal influenza and include:
- Adults over age 65
- Children younger than 5 years old
- Patients who are pregnant
- Patients who have weakened immune systems
- Patients with comorbidities like asthma, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease or who are obese
“So far in the U.S., most people are not at risk of getting avian flu, and most patients who have had it have had very mild illness,” says Dr. Kessler. “It’s more reassuring that we are not on the cusp of a new pandemic.”
How to prevent bird flu
For the most part, these viruses have been spread through direct contact with infected animals, including birds and dairy cows. For cows, the virus seems to be concentrated in the udders and contact with milk from these cows could increase the risk of transmission.
“It’s unfortunately very easy for the virus to move between birds, including wild birds with domestic ones,” says Dr. Kessler.
Since this virus doesn’t move via human-to-human transmission, most people are at low risk for catching bird flu. The best thing you can do is limit direct contact with birds, dairy cows and their products (including raw milk).
Still, the same practices that protect you from other respiratory viruses can help keep you safe:
- Wash your hands regularly.
- Get your seasonal flu vaccine (while it likely won’t protect against avian influenza, it lowers the risk of severe illness from the seasonal flu).
- Practice good coughing hygiene.
- Stay home if you are sick.
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