Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)
Frequently Asked Questions about Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)
The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus, a strain of avian influenza or bird flu, is a viral disease that primarily infects poultry (e.g., chickens, turkey, ducks) and other wild birds. HPAI A(H5N1) virus is particularly contagious in bird populations and has resulted in the deaths of millions of birds in the United States. There have been two cases of HPAI A(H5N1) virus reported in humans in the United States since 2022.
HPAI A(H5N1) symptoms are similar to the seasonal influenza virus. Possible symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, eye infections, difficulty breathing, pneumonia, and severe respiratory disease. If you have had close and/or sustained unprotected contact with infected birds or animals or their contaminated environments, monitor for these symptoms for 10 days after your last exposure. If you have these symptoms, speak with your healthcare provider about the length of your at-home isolation before returning to your normal activities. The same diagnostic tools that are used to detect seasonal influenza viruses like the flu can also detect HPAI A(H5N1) viruses.
The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus spreads to humans when enough virus gets into a person’s eyes, nose, or mouth or is inhaled from an infected bird or animal. There is no evidence of sustained person-to-person spread of HPAI A(H5N1).
While the risk of HPAI A(H5N1) is low, everyone should take the following precautions:
- Avoid contact with poultry, wild birds, and other animals that appear ill or are dead, as well as contact with surfaces that may have been contaminated with their feces.
- Avoid uncooked or undercooked poultry, meat, and eggs.
- Drink pasteurized milk that has been treated to kill harmful bacteria.
- Cook poultry, meat, and eggs to the right internal temperature to kill bacteria and viruses, including HPAI A(H5N1) viruses.
- Wash your hands and surfaces thoroughly before and after handling poultry, meat, and eggs.
People with close and/or sustained unprotected contact with infected birds or animals or their contaminated environments are at a greater risk of infection. To reduce the spread, those with known exposure to HPAI A(H5N1) virus-infected birds or other animals should isolate themselves away from others and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen. People who work with or have recreational exposures to infected animal populations, maintain backyard birds/poultry, and engage in hunting should consider taking these additional protections:
- Avoid contact with poultry, wild birds, and other animals that appear ill or are dead, as well as contact with surfaces that may have been contaminated with their feces.
- Wear personal protective equipment (PPE):
- Disposable outer garments with long sleeves and a sealed apron
- Disposable gloves or heavier work gloves that can be disinfected
- Properly-fitted high filtration masks such as N95s, KN95s, and KF94s
- Safety goggles and disposable head coverings
- Disposable shoe covers or boots that can be cleaned and disinfected.
- Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub after contact with birds and mammals.
- Avoid touching your skin with gloved hands.