What to Know About Bird Flu | Parenting OC, Parenting Advice, Expert Advice, Health & Wellness

I’ve been hearing a lot about bird flu lately. Should I be concerned for my family?

All ages

If you are worried about the bird flu, you are not alone. There has been increased awareness of bird flu since spring, when three U.S. dairy workers contracted H5N1, a strain of avian flu that made its way from birds to cows to humans.

Parents are concerned about the possibility of another zoonotic pandemic, or one that starts in animals and spreads from human to human. So, what is bird flu, and what do you need to know to protect your family?

Bird, or avian flu, is a virus of the influenza family that primarily infects birds around the world. While there are several strains of the virus, the ones we have seen most commonly in recent years are H5N1 and H7N9, with H5N1 having recently infected U.S. dairy farm workers.

Currently, we are not seeing a human-to-human spread of the disease, and infection in humans remains rare. But it is important to educate yourself and take precautions to prevent the possible spread of bird flu infection.

Here’s what I recommend to my patients:

Understand how it spreads. Avian flu is mostly spread through contact with infected birds or their droppings. The virus can easily be spread from bird to bird through their saliva, feces and secretions.

Watch for symptoms. The symptoms look like other flu symptoms, ranging from mild to severe, including fever, sore throat, muscle aches, conjunctivitis, pneumonia, difficulty breathing, gastrointestinal symptoms (such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting) and altered mental status.

Take precautions. While preparing food, keep your hands clean, especially after handling poultry. Also, make sure your poultry and eggs are cooked fully to kill any viruses that may be present. You cannot get bird flu from eating fully cooked poultry or pasteurized dairy, but raw, unpasteurized milk can cause food-borne illness. If you are eating eggs from a supermarket, have no fear: They are washed before packaging. Backyard or farm eggs, however, should be cleaned with a brush or cloth to remove germs.

Use common sense. Do not touch or handle sick or dead birds, or any other animal believed to be infected with avian flu.

The influenza family of viruses tends to be particularly severe in older adults and children under 5. One of the best measures of protection against any flu virus is a vaccine. As officials prepare the fall’s flu vaccine, they are also taking steps to have 4.8 million doses of H5N1 vaccine ready to go, should the need arise.

Infectious disease experts say they are concerned about the “jump” of the H5N1 from bird to cow to human, but so far we have not seen the kind of human-to-human transmission that makes medical experts sound the alarm. And while concern for your child’s safety is understandable, I urge parents to take heart.

Overall, the risk of human transmission of avian influenza remains relatively low. Stay informed, practice good hygiene practices and prioritize preventative measures. If you have any concerns about bird flu or suspect your child may be infected, consult your pediatrician for guidance and appropriate care.