Have you noticed that eggs are more expensive? Or maybe you‘ve heard about how many cats and other animals are getting sick and dying? Or you’ve just been seen a lot about birds lately?
It’s all because of bird flu. Bird flu (or H5N1, its more technical name) is a type of influenza virus normally carried by birds (thus, bird flu) that can cause severe illness and death.
Egg prices are higher because commercial chickens (and backyard flocks) are getting infected with bird flu. H5N1 is also making a lot of wild birds sick. In just the last four months, 20 million commercial birds have been killed. Millions more wild birds have been found dead, too.
It’s not just birds who are getting sick, though. Bird flu has infected dairy cows around the country, and the virus can be found in raw milk. Aside from cows, bird flu has infected 45+ other mammals - from seals and dolphins, to bears and cheetahs. Cats, big and small, are particularly vulnerable. Zoos and animal sanctuaries for big cats have been hit hard, losing over 50 animals to bird flu in the last year alone. And unfortunately, house cats can get it too.
And yes, humans can get bird flu, too. Dozens of people have been infected so far, mostly from being around sick birds or cows. As of February, bird flu infections have sent several people to the hospital, and at least one person has died. And if the virus gets better at spreading from person to person, it could make many more people sick.
So how do we keep ourselves, our pets, and our food safe?
Safe Food Preparation
Raw meat, raw eggs, and raw dairy often contain dangerous germs that can make us sick - like bird flu. Heating meat and dairy products helps kill most of the germs in these raw food products. Active bird flu virus, which can cause infection, was found in raw milk, but not in pasteurized milk. For this reason, you should only consume fully cooked meat and pasteurized dairy products. Proper food preparation isn't just for bird flu safety - it also prevents the spread of other pathogens like tuberculosis, listeria, and E. coli.
If you're trying to avoid buying dairy and eggs altogether, there are plenty of online recipes and food ideas that can help you save at the grocery store.
Keep your distance from wildlife.
Staying away from wild animals is good for them and for you.
Wild animals carry a lot of diseases that can make humans and pets and sick - bird flu is just one of them. It's especially important to stay away from sick or dead birds. Keeping your distance from wild animals reduces the risks of you or your pets picking up whatever the animal has.
As hard as it can be, that means leaving sick animals alone. If you come across a sick or dead bird, report it to your local game commission or health department.
Keep your cats (and other pets) away from birds
Cats - big and domestic - often die (over 50% of the time) if they get bird flu. Keeping your cats inside and away from birds is a good way to protect them. There are great resources for making sure your cat is happy and healthy indoors.
Bird flu can infect dogs and other pets, too, so it's best to keep all of your animals away from birds. Avoiding birds, bird poop, and wildlife in general is an easy way to keep your pup and other animals safe from bird flu. You can also wipe off your pet's paws when they come inside to keep germs from following them inside.
Practice proper hygiene
Proper hygiene is important for staying healthy, whether it’s protecting yourself from bird flu or other illnesses.
Handwashing
Washing your hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds helps wash away germs like bird flu that could make you sick.
Masks
Masks work. A well-fitted, appropriate mask (the kind you want is a respirator mask) helps reduce damage from wildfires, chemical fumes, and airborne diseases like bird flu. Wearing masks in public spaces reduces the chance you'll catch - or spread - a disease. Wearing a mask (and gloves) is especially important if you’ll be working closely with birds for an extended period of time, like on a poultry farm.
Clean Air
Running an air purifier at your home, office, or other confined space can help filter out harmful particles like bird flu from your environment.
Take your shoes off inside
Taking your shoes off before going inside helps avoid bringing any undesirable germs inside.
Wash everything
Washing your clothes if you work around animals or in a high-risk industry like farming, keeping your work clothes separate from your everyday clothes, furniture, and living spaces can help keep germs away from your loved ones.
Share these tips!
Communication is key - for relationships and public health! Talking to your community about what's going on with bird flu is important, and so is making sure they know there are things they can do to stay safe!
Bird flu is not a pandemic yet - by being proactive, we can keep it that way!
Stay informed, stay ready
Bird flu is a constantly changing situation, so being aware and adapting is key. Staying updated on current news and recommendations is the best way to know what is going on with the current outbreak and what precautions to take.
Recommendations may change as we learn more about bird flu. This may be confusing and frustrating, but updating health recommendations means that we know more than we did before and are better able to protect each other.
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The little birds of The Cuckoo Nest are hard at work researching, writing, and creating resources for the flock. If you have questions, send a carrier pigeon.
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