Can People Get Bird Flu? The Truth About Current Risks and Human Infections

You've probably seen the headlines lately about dairy cows or backyard flocks and wondered, can people get bird flu? It sounds like a plot from a movie we’ve all seen before. But the reality is a bit more nuanced than a Hollywood script.

The short answer is yes. People can absolutely catch it. But before you start panic-buying masks again, we need to look at the "how" and the "why" because context is everything here.

Most people think of the flu as a winter nuisance—sore throats, fevers, and a week on the couch. Bird flu, specifically the H5N1 strain that has been dominating the news, is a different beast entirely. It’s an avian influenza A virus. Usually, these viruses stay in birds. They circulate in wild mallards, geese, and shorebirds without causing much of a fuss. But sometimes, they jump. They spill over into poultry, then into mammals like foxes, skunks, and recently, cattle.

What’s actually happening with human cases?

Human infections are rare. That’s the most important thing to keep in mind. Since 2022, the United States has only seen a handful of cases, mostly linked to direct contact with infected dairy cows or poultry. For example, in 2024, workers in Texas and Michigan tested positive after being around sick cattle. Their symptoms? Surprisingly mild. We’re talking about conjunctivitis—pink eye—and some light coughing.

This is weird.

In the past, H5N1 was known for being incredibly deadly to humans. If you look at global data from the World Health Organization (WHO) spanning the last twenty years, the case fatality rate was north of 50%. That is a terrifying number. However, the specific "clade" (think of it as a family branch) currently circulating in the U.S., called 2.3.4.4b, hasn't shown that same level of lethality in the recent human jumps.

Scientists are watching this like hawks. Dr. Nirav Shah, the Principal Deputy Director of the CDC, has been vocal about the fact that while the risk to the general public remains low, the risk to farmworkers is a totally different story. If you're rubbing elbows with 500 cows that are shedding the virus in their milk, your risk profile isn't "low." It’s high.

How the virus actually enters a human body

You can’t just walk past a bird and get sick. It doesn't work that way. To understand can people get bird flu, you have to understand the mechanics of infection.

The virus needs a way in. This usually happens through the eyes, nose, or mouth. It could be through droplets in the air—if a sick bird flaps its wings and kicks up dust, saliva, or feces—or through direct touch. Imagine a farmer handling a sick hen, then wiping their sweat away with a contaminated hand. That’s the classic transmission route.

There's also the milk issue.

Recently, the FDA found fragments of H5N1 in grocery store milk. This caused a brief internet meltdown. But here’s the kicker: the milk was pasteurized. Pasteurization kills the virus. The fragments found were basically "viral debris"—the equivalent of seeing a broken car engine. It looks like a car, but it’s not going anywhere. It’s not infectious. Raw milk, however, is a massive gamble right now. Drinking unpasteurized milk from an infected herd is a direct ticket to potential infection. Don't do it.

Why experts are sweating the "Reassortment" problem

Biologists aren't just worried about a few people getting pink eye. They’re worried about something called reassortment.

Think of it like a genetic swap meet.

If a person (or a pig) gets infected with a human flu virus and a bird flu virus at the same time, those viruses can get inside the same cell. They can trade parts. If the bird flu virus picks up the "easy to spread among humans" gene from the seasonal flu, we have a problem. That’s how pandemics start. This is why the CDC and the USDA are aggressively testing workers and monitoring the genetic sequences of every human case. So far, we haven't seen the specific mutations—like those in the PB2 gene—that would signal the virus is getting ready to spread easily from person to person.

The symptoms: It’s not always a cough

If you’re wondering if you’ve been exposed, don’t just look for a fever. Bird flu symptoms in humans are a bit of a chameleon.

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• Eye redness: This has been the hallmark of the 2024 cases.
• Respiratory issues: Shortness of breath or a dry cough.
• Neurological signs: In some animal species, H5N1 attacks the brain. While rare in humans, severe cases in the past have involved seizures or altered mental states.
• The usual suspects: Fatigue, body aches, and sore throat.

If you haven't been around a farm or handled a dead bird, your "seasonal flu" is almost certainly just the seasonal flu.

Can people get bird flu from eating chicken?

This is a huge concern for anyone hitting the grocery store. The short answer is no, provided you aren't eating raw chicken (which is a bad idea for a dozen other reasons).

The U.S. has a very strict protocol. If a single bird in a commercial flock tests positive, the entire flock is culled. They don't enter the food supply. Even if a contaminated bird somehow slipped through, heat is the ultimate equalizer. Cooking poultry to an internal temperature of 165°F kills the influenza virus instantly. Your Sunday roast is safe. Your eggs are safe too, as long as they aren't runny and raw—though even then, the risk is statistically minuscule compared to direct contact with live, shedding animals.

The "Silent" spread in mammals

What’s truly fascinating (and a bit unsettling) is how H5N1 is behaving in other animals. We’ve seen it in sea lions in South America, cats on dairy farms, and even a polar bear in Alaska.

When the virus jumps to mammals, it has to adapt. Mammals have lower body temperatures in certain areas and different cell receptors than birds. Every time it jumps into a new species, it’s like the virus is taking a masterclass in "How to Infect Mammals 101." This doesn't mean it will become a human pandemic, but it means the virus is currently the most successful it has ever been in terms of geographic reach and host range.

What should you actually do?

Knowing that can people get bird flu is a possibility shouldn't change your daily life if you live in a city and don't keep chickens. But it should change your behavior if you’re an outdoorsy person or live in a rural area.

Stop touching dead birds. Seriously. If you see a dead crow or a goose on a hiking trail, leave it alone. Call local wildlife officials. If you have a backyard coop, keep it clean and keep your birds away from wild waterfowl. Wear gloves and a mask if you have to handle a bird that looks "off"—lethargic, swimming in circles, or having trouble breathing.

Actionable Steps for Protection

If you are in a high-risk group or simply want to stay ahead of the curve, here is what actually works based on current CDC and WHO guidelines:

1. Avoid Raw Dairy: Stick to pasteurized milk, cheese, and yogurt. The heat treatment used in commercial processing is specifically designed to kill pathogens like influenza.
2. Report Sick Wildlife: Don't be a hero. Use the USDA’s toll-free number or your state’s wildlife agency to report unusual bird die-offs.
3. Basic Hygiene: It sounds cliché, but soap and water dissolve the fatty envelope of the flu virus. If you've been at a county fair or a petting zoo, wash your hands before you touch your face.
4. Get Your Seasonal Flu Shot: While the seasonal vaccine doesn't prevent H5N1, it prevents you from getting both at the same time. This lowers the chance of that "genetic swap meet" (reassortment) happening in your own lungs.
5. Monitor for Pink Eye: if you work in agriculture and notice sudden, unexplained eye irritation after handling animals, seek medical attention and mention the exposure.

We aren't in a pandemic. We are in a period of "enhanced surveillance." The systems are working—we’re finding cases because we’re looking for them. By staying informed and respecting the barrier between wild animals and our domestic spaces, the risk to most of us remains a footnote rather than a headline.