Avian Influenza (H5N1 Bird Flu)

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Current Bird Flu Situation

The risk to the general public remains very low.
No person-to-person spread of bird flu has been detected in California.
People rarely get bird flu, but those who interact with infected dairy cows, poultry, or wildlife have a greater risk of infection.
There have been few cases of bird flu in humans, and the symptoms have usually been mild.
Pasteurized milk and dairy products are safe to consume. Pasteurization inactivates the bird flu virus.
Bird flu is very different than COVID. There are no public mask mandates, "lockdowns," or public restrictions currently in place, nor being considered.
For statewide updates, please see the resources below, including the California Department of Public Health and California Department of Food and Agriculture webpages.

What is Bird Flu?

Bird flu, also known as avian influenza A (H5N1) or highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), is caused by a virus that can cause serious illness and death in birds and mammals. Human infections with bird flu viruses are rare, but they can happen when the virus gets into a person's eyes, nose, mouth, or when inhaled.

How It Spreads

How does bird flu spread?

It spreads from sick cows, birds, or other infected animals to people by:

Breathing in dust or droplets with the virus.
Splashing raw milk from an infected cow in your eyes, nose or mouth.
Touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands after:
- Touching raw milk, cow or bird feces, or other contaminated items or surfaces.
- Handling sick or dead animals infected with the virus.
Drinking raw milk.

Bird flu spreads from cows through contact with infected materials, then touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.

Bird flu spreads from birds through contact with infected materials, then touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.

Prevention

How do I avoid getting bird flu?

Avoid contact with infected animals. Avoid direct contact with birds and other animals that could be infected with bird flu. Wild birds can be infected with bird flu even if they don't look sick.
Get the seasonal flu vaccine. It is recommended that all Californians, especially workers at risk for exposure to bird flu, receive a seasonal flu vaccine. While the seasonal flu vaccine will not protect against bird flu, getting vaccinated can lower the risk of being infected with both seasonal flu and bird flu at the same time. Getting vaccinated also reduces the chance of severe illness from seasonal flu.
Only consume pasteurized dairy products. The bird flu virus can be present in raw, unpasteurized milk. Unpasteurized milk may contain other germs that can make you sick. Do not touch or consume raw milk or raw milk products. Pasteurized milk and dairy foods are safe to eat.

How do I protect myself?

If you must have contact with birds or other potentially infected animals, wear recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) and take extra precautions.

This includes:

Wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as respirators (N95 masks), eye protection (face shields or eye goggles) and gloves.

Working outdoors or in well-ventilated indoor environments.
Washing your hands after contact with animals or their environments and before taking breaks or eating/drinking.
Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
Wearing dedicated work clothing and footwear and washing them to keep on-site if possible.
Changing clothes and footwear and showering after work.

Signs and Symptoms

What are the symptoms of bird flu in humans?

Eye redness or discharge.
Cough.
Sore throat.
Runny or stuffy nose.
Diarrhea.
Vomiting.
Muscle or body aches.

Headaches.
Fatigue.
Trouble breathing.
Fever (100 °F or higher).
Pneumonia.
Seizures.

Symptoms can be serious and lead to death.

Who is at higher risk of getting bird flu?

You are at higher risk if you work with or are around poultry, dairy cows, alpacas, wildlife or raw (unpasteurized) milk. This includes any contact with animal fluids, feces, or feathers.

Examples of those at higher risk include:

Farmworkers who:

Work with dairy cows.
Work with poultry.
Handle raw dairy products.
Work in slaughterhouses.
Work in hatcheries.

Wildlife Workers:

Wildlife rehabilitation center staff and volunteers.
Veterinary clinic staff.
Pest management and animal removal personnel.
Animal control officers and shelter staff.
Zoo staff and volunteers.

Additional resources for workers: in Hmong and Punjabi

Reporting Sick or Dead Birds

Those with domestic birds that are sick or have died under suspicious circumstances are asked to contact the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s sick bird hotline at (866) 922-2473.

Those who find wild birds that are sick or have died are asked to contact the California Fish and Wildlife Department at (916) 358-2790 or submit a report online.

Additional information regarding the Reporting and Testing of Sick and Dead Birds