Keep Informed About Bird Flu

January 30, 2025

Keep Your Residents Informed About Bird Flu

Dear Municipal Leaders,

Although avian influenza (bird flu) is affecting poultry and dairy cows in the United States, there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission at this time. The current public health risk is low. However, we want to make sure our residents understand what there is to know about bird flu.

How You Can Help

As a trusted municipal leader, you play a key part in helping us communicate public health and safety information to your residents. Here’s how you can help:

  • Learn about bird flu and how to prevent it.
  • Share information and resources with your residents.
  • Follow the Lake County Health Department on Facebook & Instagram, share our updates and prevention tips.

About Bird Flu

   

Bird flu is a disease caused by avian influenza A viruses that usually spread between birds, not people. Wild water birds are the hosts of avian influenza A viruses. Infected birds and other animals can spread the virus through their mucus, saliva, or feces (poop).

One subtype of bird flu, caused by avian influenza A(H5N1) virus, is spreading worldwide in wild birds and causing outbreaks in U.S. poultry and dairy cows. H5N1 bird flu has caused some rare human infections. 

Information to Share with Your Residents

People rarely get infected with bird flu. However, human infections can happen when enough virus gets into a person’s eyes, nose, or mouth, or is inhaled. It most often happens through close, prolonged unprotected contact (no gloves or other protective wear) with infected birds or animals, or their contaminated environments.

Prevention Tips for the General Public

  • Avoid direct contact with sick or dead wild birds, poultry, and other animals. Observe them only from a distance.
  • If you must have direct or close contact with sick or dead wild birds, poultry, or other animals, wear recommended personal protective equipment (PPE). Wild birds can be infected even if they don’t look sick.
  • Do not touch surfaces or materials (such as animal litter or bedding material) contaminated with saliva, mucus, or animal feces from wild or domestic birds or other animals with confirmed or suspected infection.
  • Do not touch or consume raw milk or raw milk products, especially from animals with confirmed or suspected infection.

Find more prevention tips from the CDC

Prevention Tips for Residents with Backyard Flocks

Avian flu can harm poultry flocks. Preventing disease is the best way to keep your flock healthy.

  • Separate your flock from disease sources, including wildlife and wild birds.
  • Keep your poultry area and equipment clean.
  • Separate new or returning birds from your flock for at least 30 days.
  • Don’t share equipment with neighbors.
  • Monitor your flock’s health. Know the signs of disease and check your flock daily for any signs of illness.

 

    

 

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