Bird Flu Symptoms in Humans: How to Protect Yourself and Prevent This Rare But Serious Virus

With cold and flu season approaching, it’s worth knowing about another virus out there—albeit extremely rare: bird flu. Like the regular flu, bird flu virus symptoms include fever, cough and a sore throat. However, it can quickly progress to more severe problems, especially regarding your respiratory system. Reassuringly, there have been only 15 human cases of Avian influenza reported since 2022 in the United States, so it’s extremely unlikely you’ll catch it. But if you’re still curious about how to protect yourself just in case, keep reading to learn more about bird flu symptoms in humans, how it’s caught and ways to prevent and treat this disease.

What is bird flu?

Before diving into the symptoms and health concerns associated with cases of bird flu in humans, it’s important to understand the illness and how it’s transferred to us. Bird flu (avian influenza) is a viral infection that mainly spreads among birds including ducks, geese and chickens. 

Certain strains like the H7N9 and H5N1 virus are more likely to affect humans, explains Eve Elizabeth Pennie, MD, general practitioner and medical contributor for Drugwatch.

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How do you catch bird flu?

Bird flu is most commonly caught through direct contact with infected birds through bodily fluids like saliva or feces and contaminated surfaces. In some (rare) cases, Dr. Pennie notes you can get infected without being exposed to a bird.

“You can’t get bird flu from eating eggs and/or poultry that have been properly cooked, and bird flocks known to have avian influenza are taken out of the supply for human consumption,” adds Brynna Connor, MD, Healthcare Ambassador at NorthWestPharmacy.com. “It’s also possible for the virus to spread through small dust particles from infected animal habitats that are inhaled or that get into the eyes, nose and/or mouth after touching the aforementioned bodily fluids.”

But how likely are you to come down with it? “People who worked closely with bird flocks for prolonged periods without sufficient protection are most at risk,” notes Dr. Connor.

Bird flu symptoms

Bird flu symptoms in humans present similarly to the flu and can range from mild to severe. “They can appear within the first three to five days after contact with an infected animal,” says Dr. Connor. “Common symptoms of bird flu include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches/pains, nausea and/or vomiting, diarrhea, stuffy or runny nose and fatigue,” says Dr. Connor. 

It’s a virus that attacks the upper respiratory system, so it “can quickly progress to more severe symptoms like difficulty breathing, chest pain and pneumonia,” says Dr. Pennie. “In some cases, it can lead to life-threatening complications such as multi-organ failure.”

Since bird flu can escalate rather quickly, it’s important to seek medical attention immediately if you suspect you have the illness. That said, bird flu can’t be diagnosed by symptoms alone. You’ll have to let your doctor know you’ve been in contact with a potentially infected bird.

From there, he or she will perform a swab test on your nose and throat and send the results to a lab to confirm a diagnosis of bird flu, the Centers for Disease Control Prevention (CDC) reports.

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How to prevent and treat bird flu

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Even though human cases of bird flu are rare, it’s important to stay informed and aware of any outbreaks in your area. You can check the CDC website and World Health Organization (WHO) for case updates. “The easiest way to prevent contracting bird flu is to avoid contact with wild birds and/or other animals believed to be infected with avian influenza,” says Dr Connor. 

If you can’t avoid contact, you should wear protective clothing and avoid touching anything that could be contaminated such as bedding, bodily fluids or other infected animals. “Due to the current outbreak of bird flu in dairy cows, you should not drink raw milk or raw milk products,” adds Dr. Connor.

When it comes to treatment, Dr. Pennie shares that seeking medical attention right away is crucial. “Antiviral medications like oseltamivir (Tamiflu) can effectively reduce symptoms and prevent complications if taken early,” she says. Other medications such as Peramivir (Rapivab), or Zanamivir (Relenza) may be prescribed by your healthcare provider to help treat bird flu as well.