Bird Flu Update

 

The price of eggs has soared, and consumers can blame the Bird Flu virus (Avian Influenza or H5N1 virus). Egg prices may increase another 20% in 2025 before decreasing. Darke and Mercer County had two new outbreaks, affecting 1.4 million birds in Mercer County. Bird Flu affects dairy and beef cattle, swine (hogs), even cats, and dogs. Currently, there are at least 100 million poultry affected by Bird Flu and at least 11,000 cases in wild birds identified. The Bird Flu is especially high in wild bird populations and has been around since the 1900s. The problem is it has now moved into domestic livestock farms.

So far, 67 human cases in the USA have been identified with Bird Flu, but all the people had direct exposure to poultry on farms or in backyards. This month, one person died of Bird Flu in Louisiana, and another person was identified in San Francisco. Most contact is likely from the virus getting into their eyes, nose, or mouth. Bird Flu is a disease and should be taken seriously; however, the direct impact on humans is still very low. So far, humans cannot spread this to other humans. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) has rated the human concern as low but is keeping a close eye on new developments (possible mutations).

Poultry (chickens, turkeys, ducks) and wild birds like Canadian geese, pigeons, starlings, and sparrows may all be vectors or spreaders of this disease. Milk pasteurization has been shown to be an effective way to keep the virus from infecting humans. Cows can spread Bird Flu from animal to animal through milking machines, so good sanitation is required. Usually, milk production drops by 25% or more when cows are infected. Milk and eggs are safe to eat if they are cooked properly and pasteurized. However, you should avoid consuming raw milk and undercooked eggs. Take proper precautions if using homegrown eggs or milk to avoid contamination. Make sure to report any sick animals to your local veterinarian, who are our first responders to this livestock disease.

People who spend a lot of time handling or grooming birds are at higher risk. Do not overhandle birds or make pets of them. Do not eat raw bird meat, which might contain the virus. The virus thrives in birds’ airways, and so far, human and mammal airways are not good hosts for the virus. However, the more exposure humans and mammals have to the virus, the more likely it may eventually mutate and evolve to cause harm to more humans. Pigs, hogs, or swine (all similar terms) have to be watched carefully because they have airways similar to humans, and if it starts mutating there, it may spread to humans.

Bird vaccines are being developed to prevent human infection. The government is also developing human vaccines against Bird Flu, but like the COVID vaccine, the amount of immunity a vaccine provides to protect people is not perfect and currently gives relatively low immunity to the virus.

Bird Flu prevention is still the best policy. Wash your hands frequently for at least 15 seconds with soap, especially after contact with birds or livestock. Around birds, stay free of bird droppings (feces, saliva, or bird mucus). Use hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol. Stay away from sick or strange-acting birds or mammals that may be sick.

Wear protective equipment like gloves, facemasks, eye protection, and even N95 respirators if working around animals that may be sick with Bird Flu. Many feed companies and even farm sprayers and fertilizer spreaders are now using protective baths on their equipment (especially tires) to avoid spreading the Bird Flu disease from farm to farm.

For the average human, just avoid contact with birds, especially poultry like live chickens, turkeys, and waterfowl like ducks and geese. Stay away from, discourage, or reduce populations of pigeons, starlings, sparrows, Canadian geese, and other wild birds around your farm. Do not touch or go near sick or dead birds and avoid contact with bird droppings.

Avoid eating raw or unprocessed poultry meat, eggs, or unpasteurized milk. Fully cooked food like eggs and poultry is safe to eat. If working around birds or dairy cattle, change your clothes often and only work with healthy animals. Sick animals generally show signs of weakness, coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, diarrhea, and loss of appetite along with reduced egg or milk production. Most farm workers have to shower and change clothes at the end of each shift now for disease control and security reasons to avoid spreading diseases. Most flu viruses eventually die down, but it takes everyone’s help to make that happen.