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How concerned should you be about bird flu (H5N1)? (posted January 8, 2025)
Concerns about the bird flu have been dominating headlines and social media. A pandemic-weary public, it would seem, is waiting expectantly for news about the H5N1 virus to gradually get worse. On Monday, an older adult in Louisiana with severe respiratory symptoms became the first person in the U.S. to die. It was also the nation’s first human case linked to exposure to backyard birds, according to the CDC. Overall, the agency reports 66 confirmed human cases in the U.S., including one in Barron County, Wisconsin. But, it says there is no person-to-person spread, and the current public health risk remains low.
So, how is one supposed to feel about the status of the avian flu right now? We at Brown County Public Health won’t presume to know your personal level of anxiety about the matter, but we can present you with the facts of the situation as it stands, equipping you with knowledge about a topic that won’t be going away any time soon. In today’s edition of The Healthy Herald, we’ll explore why experts are anxious, what the public can do, and the bottom line about bird flu.
Experts watching closely for mutation
The H5N1 virus established itself in wild birds decades ago, before a variant started to spread among poultry and mammals in 2021. In March of last year, experts were surprised to see bird flu transmitting between cows in the U.S. Last month, the State of California declared a state of emergency due to an ongoing outbreak among its dairy herds. H5N1 has also popped up in poultry farms and culling operations in a handful of other states. The spread among animals leads to what’s called “spillover” infections in humans, which can give the virus opportunity to mutate. However, there has been no evidence yet of human-to-human transmission. The CDC has assessed the currently circulating H5N1 bird flu virus as posing a potential public health risk, comparable to other moderate risk Influenza A viruses.
Not much the average person can do
While we wait and see what happens with the bird flu, there’s honestly not much the average joe can do on the prevention side. The CDC has offered some suggestions, which include:
- Avoid direct contact with wild birds.
- Avoid contact with wild or domestic birds that appear ill or have died.
- Avoid unprotected contact or close exposure with cattle and materials potentially infected with H5N1.
- Avoid eating or drinking raw milk or products made with raw milk.
At Brown County Public Health, we believe it’s important to stay informed about matters that affect, or may affect, the community’s health. In the case of H5N1, there is no impact on our area, and there possibly may never be any impact. While it’s concerning, there’s no use worrying about a situation out of your control. We advise sticking to trusted sources of information about public health and reaching out to us with any questions or concerns. In the meantime, thanks for reading and Stay Healthy, Brown County!