Will Bird Flu Outbreak Cause a Pandemic or Lockdown? Experts Explain

What is Bird Flu?

Like people, birds can get the flu, and the avian influenza viruses that make birds sick can sometimes infect other animals like cows and, rarely, people, the National Library of Medicine explains.

H5 is one family of bird flu viruses. It has caused widespread flu in wild birds worldwide and is causing outbreaks in poultry and U.S. dairy cows, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes. Some farm workers exposed to those animals have also gotten sick.

Is There a Bird Flu Outbreak?

There have been 46 confirmed human cases in the U.S. during the 2024 outbreak, according to the CDC. They were reported in California, Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, Texas, and Washington State.

“We do have an outbreak of human infections of H5N1,” says Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and a spokesperson for the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Almost all patients had contact with infected cattle or poultry. The single exception — a patient in Missouri — had no known animal exposure. There’s been no confirmed person-to-person spread.

Could Bird Flu Turn into a Pandemic?

Both experts say it’s unlikely this particular strain of bird flu would lead to a pandemic because it doesn’t have the ability to spread efficiently between people.

H5N1 has been infecting humans since 1997, so it’s had time to evolve, but still doesn’t easily jump from person to person, Adalja points out.

“I don’t think that this is the highest risk bird flu strain,” he says. “You can’t say the risk is zero. But of the bird flu viruses, it’s lower risk.”

Could There Be a Lockdown Due to Bird Flu?

Again, not likely for this strain, since H5N1 isn’t posing a threat to the general public, both experts say.

If that were to change, people should realize lockdowns, like those during COVID-19, are not the “go-to measure” for an infectious disease emergency, Adalja says, calling them “very blunt tools.”

Is There a Bird Flu Vaccine?

Four vaccine candidates for dairy cows have been approved for field trials, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In poultry, four potential bird flu vaccines began to be tested in 2023, Reuters reported.

When it comes to humans, the CDC says the U.S. government is developing vaccines against H5N1 viruses “in case they are needed.”

Bird Flu Symptoms and Prevention

The CDC lists the following bird flu symptoms:

• Eye redness
• Mild flu-like upper respiratory symptoms
• Fever or feeling feverish
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Pneumonia requiring hospitalization
• Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting or seizures (these are less common symptoms).

The people most at risk for H5N1 bird flu are dairy and poultry workers who might be around infected animals, Adalja says. They should wear personal protective equipment while working on farms affected by the virus, the CDC advises.

When it comes to the general public, “don’t consume raw milk, full stop” since H5N1 is viable in it, Lipkin says. Pasteurized milk can eliminate the risk of infection, he notes.

Properly cooked chicken is safe to eat, but wash your hands with soap and water after handling raw chicken, he adds.

Avoid direct contact with sick or dead wild birds, poultry and other animals, the CDC advises.

Conclusion

While the bird flu outbreak is a concern, experts believe it is unlikely to lead to a pandemic or lockdown. The risk of transmission from person to person is low, and the symptoms are generally mild. However, it is still important to take precautions to prevent the spread of the virus, such as avoiding contact with infected animals and wearing personal protective equipment when working on farms affected by the virus.

FAQs

Q: What is bird flu?

A: Bird flu, also known as avian influenza, is a type of flu that affects birds. It can also infect other animals, such as cows and humans, in rare cases.

Q: Is the bird flu outbreak a concern?

A: Yes, the bird flu outbreak is a concern because it can cause severe illness and death in humans. However, the risk of transmission from person to person is low, and the symptoms are generally mild.

Q: Can bird flu be prevented?

A: Yes, bird flu can be prevented by avoiding contact with infected animals, wearing personal protective equipment when working on farms affected by the virus, and following proper hygiene practices.

Q: Is there a vaccine for bird flu?

A: Yes, there are vaccine candidates for dairy cows and poultry, and the U.S. government is developing vaccines against H5N1 viruses for humans in case they are needed.

Q: What are the symptoms of bird flu?

A: The symptoms of bird flu include eye redness, mild flu-like upper respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, and pneumonia requiring hospitalization.

Q: Who is at risk for bird flu?

A: Dairy and poultry workers who might be around infected animals are at highest risk for bird flu. The general public is also at risk if they consume raw milk or have direct contact with infected animals.