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.
Added April 10, 2024