Public Health Madison & Dane County

H5N1 Bird Flu

Last updated August 2026

Cows eating hay in dairy barn

What is H5N1 bird flu?

  • H5N1 bird flu is a strain of influenza A that spreads among wild birds and sometimes causes outbreaks in dairy cows and chickens.
  • It can cause serious illness or death in some animals, like chickens and other birds, and less serious illness in other animals, like dairy cows.
  • Usually, this flu spreads between animals and birds, but sometimes it can spread to people. 
  • H5N1 bird flu is a mild illness in most people, causing eye infections and flu-like symptoms like fever, cough, stuffy nose, and body aches. 
  • If you work with or have other contact with poultry, dairy cows, unpasteurized (raw) dairy products, or wild birds, you're at higher risk for getting this. 

Symptoms to watch for

If you have any of these symptoms after close contact with sick, injured or dead birds (domestic or wild), dairy cows, or unpasteurized dairy products, you should get tested for H5N1 bird flu:

  • Fever (temperature of 100 degrees F or higher)
  • Feeling feverish/chills
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Difficulty breathing/shortness of breath
  • Eye tearing, redness, or irritation
  • Headaches
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Muscle or body aches

  • Diarrhea

When to get tested

Get tested if you develop symptoms after:

  •  Being around sick, injured, or dead birds or dairy cows (including through your work)
  • Eating or drinking unpasteurized dairy products

If you need health care right away, before going to the clinic or emergency room, call and tell the staff you're at risk for H5N1 bird flu. If it's a medical emergency, call 911 and tell the dispatcher you're at risk for H5N1 bird flu. You may be given specific instructions so that transport and care can be done in a manner that protects healthcare staff and others.

  • Make sure you put on a mask when you arrive.
  • Tell the health care provider your symptoms and that you're at risk for H5N1 bird flu.
  • They should be able to test you.

If you can wait to see a doctor, stay home and keep away from other people and animals as much as possible.

  • Call us right away at 608-266-4821 and ask for the communicable disease team (se habla español: 608-243-0380). Our phone is answered Monday - Friday from 8:00am - 4:30pm.
  • We can call your health care provider ahead of time to arrange for evaluation and possible H5N1 testing.

More Information

Why is Public Health concerned about H5N1 bird flu?

The current risk to public health is low, but we're monitoring the situation closely, and so should you. Most people don't get very sick from H5N1 bird flu, but it's important to get tested if you are at risk and have symptoms so that we know where H5N1 is in our community. This will help protect other people and animals from getting sick.

There are also concerns that someone will get infected with H5N1 bird flu and a strain of human influenza at the same time. Those viruses could then mix and could create a new strain of flu that might be more dangerous for people or animals or spread more easily. 

Who is at greater risk of being exposed?

If you have a job or other exposure to wild birds, poultry, dairy cows, or unpasteurized dairy products you have a greater risk of being exposed to bird flu.

If you work at or own a farm, it's essential you have the information you need to stay safe during this ongoing outbreak of H5N1 bird flu. Take steps to protect yourself, your animals, and others:

  • Keep germs away. Disinfect shoes, clothes, hands, crates, vehicles—any tools or equipment that's around the birds. Isolate birds returning from shows for 30 days to observe for signs of illness before returning them to the rest of the flock.
  • Limit visitors. Restrict traffic onto and off the property to necessary visits only.
  • Avoid wild birds and pests. Keep wild birds and rodents out of poultry houses and coops. Make sure feed bins are secured to prevent any wildlife contamination.
  • Have a plan. If you own a commercial farm, you should have a site-specific biosecurity plan in place. Anyone who works on your property should also know the plan.
  • Visit the CDC's website for more recommendations. The CDC has specific recommendations for workers and employers.

For all: Take steps to protect yourself from H5N1 bird flu
  • Get your seasonal flu shot. The seasonal flu shot protects against the other strains of influenza that are currently circulating in our community. Getting that shot reduces your risk of getting sick during flu season and reduces the chances of getting the H5N1 bird flu and seasonal flu at the same time. Why is that important? Having both types of the 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 cattle. The pasteurization process kills harmful germs by heating the milk to a specific temperature. You can continue to eat fully cooked eggs, chicken, turkey, etc. General precautions should always be taken when handling raw meat and eggs including washing hands and surfaces before and after food preparation. Also, cooking meat and eggs thoroughly.
  • Avoid contact with wild birds and sick, injured, or dead animals. Avoiding contact with wild birds whenever possible limits your risk of exposure.
  • 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, to protect yourself from any potential illness.

Learn more

The risk of humans getting bird flu is low for the general public but may be higher for those who work or live around poultry and dairy cows. Check out our H5N1 bird flu fact sheet for farmers and people who work with poultry and dairy cows. 

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