How Much Should I Be Concerned About Bird Flu?
Avian flu has returned to the news following an outbreak in the Midwest and Northeast and the subsequent euthanasia or death of more than 21 million birds since February. It has recently been reported that bird flu is now being blamed for the increase in the cost of turkey and eggs.
Huge grocery bills (against the backdrop of an ongoing supply chain crisis and rising inflation, no less) are worrying enough, but you might be wondering how much you should worry about bird flu for other reasons. Here’s what you need to know.
What is bird flu?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, avian influenza is an illness caused by infection with type A avian influenza viruses, but this is not entirely helpful to the average reader. The CDC goes on to note that these viruses naturally spread among wild waterfowl around the world and can infect poultry and other bird and animal species. These type A viruses have been isolated from over 100 different wild bird species worldwide, including:
- ducks
- geese
- swans
- Seagulls
- Terns
- storks
- plovers
- waders
According to the CDC, wild waterfowl, especially dabbling ducks, are considered hosts for type A viruses. They can become infected in the gut and respiratory tract, although some species may not get sick.
Infected birds can shed the viruses in saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. These viruses are highly contagious in birds, and some can cause disease or kill certain types of poultry, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys.
When virus outbreaks occur in poultry, we see depopulation, meaning many birds die. Since this is a global problem, several health authorities have joined in. The Australian government, for example, describes what happens to infected birds: Wild birds usually show no symptoms, but depending on their species, they may experience diarrhea, difficulty breathing, swollen heads, or death.
Can a person get avian flu?
Here’s the good news: According to the CDC, type A avian influenza viruses “do not typically infect humans.” However, in some rare cases, the avian influenza virus has caused varying degrees of illness in humans. Some people had no or only mild symptoms, while others contracted serious illnesses that led to death. In general, the Asian H7N9 and Asian H5N1 lineages are responsible for the majority of human disease from avian influenza viruses worldwide.
As to whether one of these rare human transmissions could lead to more human transmissions—that is, whether a person with avian influenza could pass it on to someone else—that’s also unlikely. According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, A(H5N1) is “poorly adapted to humans” although it kills most of the poultry it infects. Overall, “avian-to-human transmission is infrequent and sustained human-to-human transmission has not been observed, however it can cause severe disease in humans.” So it’s probably nothing to worry about, but you don’t want to get it either.
How can people protect themselves from bird flu?
First of all: don’t skip your flu shot. While the seasonal flu vaccine will not prevent infection with avian flu viruses, the CDC says it can reduce the risk of both human and avian flu viruses at the same time.
The CDC also recommends that people avoid direct contact with wild birds and even poultry “that appear sick or dead.” The organization suggests avoiding touching services that may have been contaminated with saliva, mucus, or feces from wild or domestic birds.
If for some reason you have to work with sick birds, use protective clothing, wash your hands thoroughly after touching a bird, and change clothing before handling healthy poultry and after handling wild birds. Hunters must dress game in the field with gloves.
If you encounter an infected bird and become sick within 10 days, isolate yourself at home away from family members. Any close contacts should monitor their health and contact a doctor if they develop symptoms within 10 days of exposure.
Proper handling of poultry and eggs and cooking them at an internal temperature of 165˚F kills bacteria and viruses, including avian influenza viruses. Always handle raw poultry hygienically and cook all poultry products, including eggs, completely. There is no evidence that anyone has contracted bird flu after eating properly prepared poultry products.
So what’s happening right now?
Prices for turkey and eggs have risen as a highly contagious strain of bird flu spreads across the United States. According to Axios , Arkansas – the second largest producer of chicken in the US – has not reported any cases, though an expert said the entire country should remain on “high alert” because the current outbreak is linked to a new bird flu. voltage.
Citing market analytics firm Urner Barry, Axios reports that the average wholesale price for a dozen large eggs in the Midwest was $2.94 earlier this week. A year ago, the price was $1.03, an increase of 185%. The wholesale price of a pound of fresh turkey breast is up almost 200% on Monday compared to the same day last year. However, Urner Barry senior vice president Russ Whitman told Axios that chicken prices are higher more because of continued demand for meat than because of the effects of bird flu.
Currently, the outbreak is mainly localized in the Northeast and Midwest. Most of the chicken in the United States comes from the southeast, which has not yet been affected.
Should I be worried?
Bird flu is possible , but unlikely. Don’t touch the birds if you can, always cook the bird and eggs to the end and wash your hands. Stay up to date with the latest outbreak news and be prepared to pay more for meat and eggs at the grocery store (although you’ve probably already done this).