The current risk to public health remains low, but we are monitoring the situation closely, and so should you.
Bird flu is a strain of influenza A that spreads among wild birds and sometimes causes outbreaks in dairy cows and poultry (chickens, ducks, geese, turkey). Usually, this flu spreads between animals and birds, but sometimes it can spread to people.
As of now, if you don't have regular contact with poultry, dairy cows, or wild birds, you likely won't be exposed to bird flu. However, because bird flu activity typically increases in the spring, it's a good idea to have a general understanding of how to protect yourself:
- Avoid contact with wild birds and sick or dead animals. For many of us, it’s human nature to want to help. So, when you see a hurt or sick creature, your first response might be to try and help it. Right now, our best advice is to leave them alone. By attempting to pick up or move the bird, you’re not only putting yourself at risk, but you’re potentially endangering the people and animals wherever you decide to take it.
- If you do have to handle a sick, injured, or dead bird, take extra precautions. Wear personal protective equipment, like disposable gloves and a well-fitting mask, and dispose of the bird in a bag and place in the garbage.
- It’s not too late to get your seasonal flu shot. Even though we’re starting to see signs of spring, flu season isn’t over yet. Getting your annual flu shot reduces your risk of getting sick. It also reduces the chances of getting the H5N1 bird flu and seasonal flu at the same time. Why is that important? Having both types of flu at the same time could allow the virus to change in ways that enable it to spread from human to human.
- Do not consume raw milk or raw milk products. Cases of bird flu continue to be identified in dairy cows. The pasteurization process kills harmful germs by heating the milk to a specific temperature.
If you do work with or handle poultry or dairy cows, there is additional guidance available.
If you have a job or hobby that involves direct contact with poultry, dairy cows, or wild birds, you're at higher risk of being exposed to bird flu. Whether you're one of the 121 current backyard chicken license holders in Dane County, or you work on a commercial farm, take extra care when handling sick animals. There is guidance available on the DHS Farm Worker Health and Safety webpage:
These resources outline simple steps like keeping germs away through proper disinfecting protocols, limiting visitors to your property, having a biosecurity plan, and avoiding wild birds and pests.
Do you have a backyard flock?
If birds in your flock have bird flu, or you suspect they might, take the following actions to protect yourself:
- Don't touch sick or dead birds, their feces or litter, or any surface or water source (for example, ponds, waterers, buckets, pans, troughs) that might be contaminated with their saliva, feces, or any other bodily fluids without wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Wear PPE when around sick or dead birds and while cleaning and disinfecting contaminated areas. As much as possible, during the cleaning process, avoid stirring up dust, bird waste, and feathers to prevent virus from spreading into the air.
You can find additional guidance on the CDC Backyard Flock Owners webpage.
If contact does happen, monitor yourself for symptoms.
If you do have contact with sick animals, monitor yourself for symptoms. Symptoms of mild illness may include eye redness or irritation, fever, cough, muscle aches, difficulty breathing, and in severe cases, can lead to complications like pneumonia or organ failure.
If you have any of these symptoms after close contact with birds, dairy cows, or unpasteurized dairy products, you should get tested for H5N1 bird flu. Call your doctor’s office before going in to let them know you’ve had exposure to birds, dairy cows, and/or unpasteurized dairy products.
Public Health is your source of trusted information.
We will continue to monitor any new cases of H5N1 bird flu in Wisconsin and will provide updates when we can. If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to our blog to get new posts sent directly to your inbox and follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
We also have a webpage dedicated to H5N1 Bird Flu at publichealthmdc.com/birdflu.
