Although rare, humans can get the H5N1 bird flu. People can get it through direct contact with infected animals, including chicken, turkey, geese and cows. There have been no human-to-human cases of bird flu reported to date.
Since April 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 61 human cases of H5 bird flu, most of which have been mild. Thirty-four of those cases have been in California, where the state of emergency was declared.
On Dec. 18, it was reported that a person in Louisiana was hospitalized in critical condition, becoming the first case of severe bird flu in the U.S.
“While an investigation into the source of the infection in Louisiana is ongoing, it has been determined that the patient had exposure to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks,” the CDC says.
“Human infections with avian influenza viruses can happen when virus gets into a person’s eyes, nose or mouth, or is inhaled. This can happen when virus is in the air (in droplets, small aerosol particles, or possibly dust) and deposits on the mucus membranes of the eyes or a person breathes it in, or possibly when a person touches something contaminated by viruses and then touches their mouth, eyes or nose,” the CDC explains.
People can also get bird flu by drinking raw milk, according to the California Department of Public Health. Pasteurized milk and eggs are safe to consume. Properly cooked beef is also safe to eat, as the high temperatures while cooking inactivates the virus, the U.S. Department of Agriculture explains.
There’s no evidence of the current strain of bird flu being spread between humans, the CDC says, and the risk of humans contracting bird flu “remains low.”
To stay safe while working with livestock, the CDC recommends:
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Avoiding direct contact with sick or dead wild birds, poultry and other animals
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Wearing personal protective equipment while handling potentially sick or dead animals
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Avoiding touching surfaces covered with saliva, mucous or feces from wild birds or potentially infected animals
According to Cleveland Clinic, symptoms of bird flu include pink eye, fever, fatigue, cough, sore throat and nausea. If you suspect you have bird flu, Cleveland Clinic recommends speaking with a healthcare provider.
If serious and left untreated, severe cases of bird flu can lead to death. “Overall, the mortality (death) rate for bird flu in humans is high — historically, about half of all people with known infections have died,” Cleveland Clinic says.