H5N1 Bird Flu
LLHD and local health departments across the country are closely following developments associated with avian influenza A (H5N1) (bird flu). At this time, there have been cases of H5Ni identified in backyard flocks, cattle and people in other states, none yet close to Connecticut. However, because people, animals and farm products move throughout our country it is important that we continue to monitor the situation and share information. Check out these resources and let us know if you have questions!
Have Chickens or Other Birds at Home? Here’s What to Know
What to do if You Find a Dead Bird
Articles and Press Releases about Bird Flu
Frequently Asked Questions about Bird Flu
Information about Protecting Backyard Flocks and Other Domestic Birds
Keeping chickens at home can be a fun and rewarding experience! Fresh eggs, companionship, and fewer ticks – why not? If you have or are thinking about keeping chickens there are simple but important things you can do to prevent the spread of Bird Flu, like preventing exposure of your birds to wild birds, restricting access to your flock, cleaning and disinfecting your clothes, shoes, equipment and hands, and not sharing or borrowing equipment and supplies from other bird owners.
For more information on steps you can take to protect your birds at home, check out the USDA’s Defend the Flock Resources.
If your birds become sick, experience a sudden drop in egg production or reduction in feed or water intake, or you have an unexplained high number of deaths, please contact the Connecticut Department of Agriculture State Veterinarian at 860.713.2505 or [email protected]. Limit your contact with sick birds and wear a mask, goggles, and gloves if you have to interact with them if it is suspected that they have H5N1.
What to do if You Find a Dead Bird
At this time the State Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) is monitoring for H5N1 in wild birds. Current evidence indicates that outbreaks usually involve the death of a large number of waterfowl or shorebirds as opposed to individual birds people may find on their property.
If you see 5 or more dead birds in one location or the same area within several day, please report it online at https://www.cfwwildbirdmortalityreporting.ct.gov/ and call the DEEP Wildlife Division at 860-424-3011.
Stay away from sick or dead birds! The best thing we can do to prevent the spread to humans is to stay away from sick or dead birds – so while it might seem heartless, if you CAN leave a sick bird alone (or leave a dead bird’s body where it is) please do.
If you have to move a dead bird it is very important to protect yourself and dispose of it properly. Avoid direct contact with the bird. Wear gloves and goggles and if possible use a shovel to place the bird in a plastic bag. If you do not have gloves, put your hand inside a plastic bag, grab the bird through the bag and pull the bag back over your hand. Tie the bag off, place that bag into a second plastic bag and tie that bag off as well. Spray the outside of the second bag with a 10% bleach solution as well as the area where the dead bird was found, any implements used to collect the bird, and any boots or shoes that were worn while disposing of the dead bird. Double-bagged dead birds should be disposed of in the trash. Always wash hands thoroughly after disposal.
Bird Flu and Food Safety
Proper cooking can reduce the chance of many illnesses, including Bird Flu. Cook poultry, eggs and beef to a safe internal temperature to kill bacteria and viruses.
Choose pasteurized milk and products made with pasteurized milk. Pasteurization kills bacteria and viruses, including the Bird Flu.
Articles and Press Releases
The following articles and press releases reflect the currently known situation as of mid-March.
December 6, 2024: USDA Implements Testing of Milk Supply for Bird Flu – USDA issued an order mandating raw milk testing as part of the federal government’s comprehensive surveillance efforts related to avian flu. This mandate comes amid an outbreak that has affected over 700 herds of dairy cows across many states. An initial round of testing is set to begin next week in raw milk from milk silos at dairy processing facilities. After that, USDA will implement bulk milk testing programs as needed, which will help to identify specific herds that are impacted by avian flu.
November 22, 2024: CDC confirms H5N1 Bird Flu Infection in a Child in California – CDC has confirmed a human infection with H5N1 bird flu in a child in California. This is the first reported avian influenza H5 virus infection in a child in the United States. CDC’s risk assessment for the general public is low. However, people with exposure to infected or potentially infected animals, such as birds, dairy cattle, or other animals (including livestock), or to environments contaminated by infected birds or other animals, are at higher risk of infection. CDC recommends avoiding unprotected exposures to sick or dead animals, including wild birds, poultry, other domesticated birds, and other wild or domesticated animals (including cows).
November 8, 2024: CDC Expands H5N1 Bird Flu Guidance to Better Protect Farm Workers – CDC updated its guidance for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus: Interim Recommendations for Prevention, Monitoring, and Public Health Investigations following a recent study published in the MMWR that reveals important findings about H5N1 virus exposure among farm workers in Michigan and Colorado. This study builds on earlier findings reported in July and underscores the need for enhanced protective measures for farm workers to prevent H5N1 transmission from infected animals.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bird Flu
H5 bird flu symptoms are similar to the seasonal influenza virus. Possible symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, eye infections, difficulty breathing, pneumonia, and severe respiratory disease. If you have had close and/or sustained unprotected contact with infected birds or animals or their contaminated environments, monitor for these symptoms for 10 days after your last exposure. If you have these symptoms, speak with your healthcare provider about the length of your at-home isolation before returning to your normal activities. The same diagnostic tools that are used to detect seasonal influenza viruses like the flu can also detect H5 bird flu. Updated on December 19, 2024
How does H5 bird flu spread? What should I do to protect myself from H5 bird flu?
H5 bird flu spreads to humans when enough virus gets into a person’s eyes, nose, or mouth or is inhaled from an infected bird or animal. There is no evidence of sustained person-to-person spread of H5 bird flu.
While the risk of H5 bird flu is low, everyone should take the following precautions:
- Avoid contact with poultry, wild birds, and other animals that appear ill or are dead, as well as contact with surfaces that may have been contaminated with their feces.
- Avoid uncooked or undercooked poultry, meat, and eggs.
- Drink pasteurized milk that has been treated to kill harmful bacteria.
- Cook poultry, meat, and eggs to the right internal temperature to kill bacteria and viruses, including H5 viruses.
- Wash your hands and surfaces thoroughly before and after handling poultry, meat, and eggs.
People with close and/or sustained unprotected contact with infected birds or animals or their contaminated environments are at a greater risk of infection. To reduce the spread, those with known exposure to H5 virus-infected birds or other animals should isolate themselves away from others and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen. People who work with or have recreational exposures to infected animal populations, maintain backyard birds/poultry, and engage in hunting should consider taking these additional protections:
- Avoid contact with poultry, wild birds, and other animals that appear ill or are dead, as well as contact with surfaces that may have been contaminated with their feces.
- Wear personal protective equipment (PPE):
- Disposable outer garments with long sleeves and a sealed apron
- Disposable gloves or heavier work gloves that can be disinfected
- Properly-fitted high filtration masks such as N95s, KN95s, and KF94s
- Safety goggles and disposable head coverings
- Disposable shoe covers or boots that can be cleaned and disinfected.
- Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub after contact with birds and mammals.
- Avoid touching your skin with gloved hands.
No human vaccines for prevention of avian influenza A(H5N1) are currently available. Seasonal influenza vaccines do not provide protection against human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses. For more information, please visit http://www.cdc.gov.
H5 bird flu impacts the milk and beef supplies. Are these foods still safe to consume?
On April 24, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that traces of H5N1 bird flu had been detected in about 20 percent of milk samples from U.S. grocery stores, and reemphasized that the commercial milk supply of pasteurized milk is still safe for consumption.
The pasteurization process inactivates harmful bacteria and viruses, which means that the found traces of H5 bird flu are not live or infectious virus. Many studies have shown that pasteurization is effective at inactivating similar influenza viruses.
According to experts, finding traces of the virus in this percentage indicates that the H5 bird flu outbreak in cows is larger than originally thought. USDA has announced mandatory testing for bird flu for any dairy cows moving across state lines. Only milk from healthy animals is authorized to be sold, and pasteurization is required for any milk entering interstate commerce.
FDA will continue to monitor the milk supply and has cautioned against the consumption of raw or unpasteurized milk or milk products.
Additionally, to keep the beef supply safe, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has conducted testing of ground beef samples from retail outlets in states where cows have tested positive for the virus. To date, no H5 virus has been found in any of the tested samples. Testing will continue and only meat that has passed USDA inspection can be sold in U.S. stores and restaurants.
Helpful Resources
- CDC: Primary page linking to current information and resources
- CDC: Comprehensive collection of materials and tools to help educate and inform the public about H5 bird flu, including fact sheets, posters, and infographics
- CDC: Wastewater surveillance for bird flu
- FDA: Investigation of Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus in Dairy Cattle