H5 Bird Flu What is it? What Do I Need to Know?

UIHS CommunicationsAll News, Infection Prevention, Medical

You may have seen some headlines about H5N1 Bird Flu making waves through the media; especially cases in California. So, let’s break it down and tell you exactly what you need to know. 

What is H5N1 Bird Flu? 

The virus is adapting to new hosts with the ability to go beyond using just birds as hosts. 

Bird flu, officially called H5N1, is a type of influenza virus that mainly affects birds, especially chickens, ducks, and other poultry. This virus has been around for decades but caught global attention in the 1990’s when an outbreak occurred in Southern China that wiped out numerous chicken farms as well as caused the first documented human cases. With this outbreak 18 people were infected and six died which led to a global concern. This virus spreads easily among birds which can lead to severe complications for food supplies, farmers’ livelihoods, as well as jobs worldwide. It is rare for humans to become infected with H5N1, but it happens when humans encounter sick or dead birds. Recently, the virus has been able to spread to mammals including dairy cows and other animals across the U.S. This indicates that the virus is adapting to new hosts with the ability to go beyond using just birds as hosts. Human infections are still uncommon, but they are being closely monitored. 

What are some proactive tips to take? 

  • Choose pasteurized products. Avoiding raw milk and raw milk products. Pasteurization kills harmful bacteria and viruses, including those that might be associated with H5N1. 
  • Handle and cook poultry safely. Make sure to cook meat and poultry to the appropriate internal temperature. Also, ensure that you are cleaning areas that raw poultry has touched, including hand washing. 
  • Hygiene. Frequent hand washing, sanitizing surfaces, and avoiding contact with sick animals. These habits can reduce the risk of illness from various sources and are all in all good practices. 

What is the current risk level? 

The current public health risk is low. There is no need for panic but definitely something that is worth paying attention to. 

Change this Subheading

Image Box Title

Change this description