Bird Flu in the Milk Aisle? Here's What You Need to Know

 

Avian influenza, also known as bird flu, is a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects domestic and wild birds. It is caused by the influenza A virus, which can also infect mammals, including humans, though such cases are rare. The disease has devastating consequences for the poultry industry, farmer’s livelihoods, international trade, and the health of wild birds.

Avian influenza viruses are classified into subtypes based on two surface proteins, the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). The virus can spread easily through secretions and excretions from infected birds, contaminated feed and water, contact with contaminated footwear, vehicles, and equipment, and cross-border movements of birds, including wild birds migration and illegal trade.The disease can be classified into low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) and high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) based on their ability to cause severe disease in birds. LPAI typically causes little or no clinical signs, while HPAI can cause severe clinical signs and possible high mortality rates. The current strain of concern is a highly pathogenic H5N1.In wild birds, avian influenza is mainly spread through direct or indirect contact with infected saliva, nasal secretions or droppings, as well as through predation or scavenging. Seabirds, in particular, are already under massive pressure from climate change, lack of prey fish, deaths through entanglement in fishing gear, predation by non-native invasive species on islands where they nest, and developments along our coasts.Human infections with HPAI are rare and usually require very close contact between humans and infected birds. The main symptoms of bird flu in birds include swollen head, closed and excessively watery eyes, unresponsiveness, lack of coordination and loss of balance, tremors, drooping wings and/or dragging legs, twisting head and neck, hemorrhages on shanks of the legs and under the skin of the neck, respiratory distress, and discolored or loose, watery droppings.To prevent the spread of bird flu between birds and people, it is recommended to avoid close contact with sick or injured birds, including touching infected birds, their droppings or bedding, killing or preparing infected birds for cooking, and breathing in aerosols such as feather dust. Cooked poultry and eggs are safe to eat in areas where outbreaks have occurred.Governments can help tackle the impacts of avian flu in wildlife by fully and publicly acknowledging that HPAI is a major threat to wildlife, amending existing HPAI response plans for wild birds, and providing financial support to farmers and small businesses affected by the disease.