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| What To Know About Bird Flu in 2025 |
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Are you at risk? Be "on alert" -- for yourself and your pets -- an expert says.
Bird flu isn't new -- reports of the virus stretch back to the 19th century, when it was known as "fowl plague" -- but experts say there's something unusual, and concerning, about the type of H5N1 virus first detected in the U.S. in 2022. "It keeps breaking rules and throwing in plot twists," says Meghan Davis, associate professor and molecular epidemiologist at John Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. "It's been getting into mammals more, and it's had staying power." By March 2025, the virus has sickened more than 970 dairy herds and killed one person in the United States. Davis answers questions about the disease.
How does H5N1 spread?
Typically it's carried by waterfowl like ducks and geese, but last spring it got into dairy cows in the U.S., "and we've seen it spread from cow to cow," Davis says. "We thought this was a rare event -- like a unicorn. But it's happening more and more. This is a very adaptable virus."
Who is getting sick?
The "vast majority" of cases have been in dairy and poultry workers who had contact with infected animals or milk. "None of the workers needed to be hospitalized. They've had upper respiratory and conjunctivitis symptoms."
Why are scientists worried?
With the virus detected in several other mammals, including mice, rats and cats, "public health is in a state of alarm. We're concerned about pandemic potential. We're one bad-luck mutation or reassortment event away from it gaining the ability to transmit human to human. The more handshakes the virus has with mammals, including humans, the more chances for a mutation that's favorable to person-to-person spread."
Are our pets in danger? Or are *they* a danger to us?
"Cats and dogs are susceptible hosts, but cats have been the ones who develop a lot of disease. It's severe, neurologic as well as respiratory and often fatal." She recommends keeping cats indoors and avoiding raw milk and raw pet food. There's "a bit of suspicion" about the possibility of cat-to-human transmission but no confirmed evidence so far.
Is it safe to drink milk or eat eggs? Feed wild birds?
"Cooking meat and eggs to recommended temperatures and pasteurizing milk are effective ways to eliminate the virus." If you're in an area with many migratory birds, Davis suggests wearing gloves, and possibly a mask, to put out birdseed.
- Eileen Finan |
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