A new strain of bird flu, a.k.a.
So if youre like us, youre probably thinking, Should I worry about catching this virus?
And is another pandemic on the horizon?
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After all, there hasnt been any known human-to-human transmission of bird flu with this strain.
From a day-to-day life standpoint, theres not any risk right now.
But there wasnt any risk to Americans in early January of 2020.
The goal here is to use public health for containment so we never get to that place again.
Here are answers to some of your most pressing questions as the bird flu situation evolves.
Can bird flu kill me?
Can I get tested for bird flu?
Is bird flu airborne?
Can I get bird flu from raw milk?
Can I get bird flu from bird poop or bird baths?
Can I get bird flu from eating runny eggs?
Can the flu vaccine protect me against bird flu?
Can I get bird flu from eating chicken, turkey, or beef?
Are farmers markets and petting zoos safe from bird flu?
What do I do if I find a dead bird?
Thats where we can see a real problem coming down the pike.
Can bird flu kill people?
So far symptoms in people in the US have been mild.
There also hasnt been a surge in emergency room visits or in positive lab tests for human flu viruses.
Regardless, we should still be vigilant about spread.
If you were, tell a doctor that you think youve been exposed to the bird flu.
Theyll swab your throat or nose and send the sample to a special lab for testing.
These floating droplets can also land in your eyes, mouth, or nose.
(As SELF has previously reported, the evidence for this just isnt there.)
The pasteurization processwhich raw milk doesnt undergokills harmful bacteria and viruses like the bird flu.
coli, Listeria, and campylobacter.
(Other infected animals shed the virus in respiratory secretions and other body fluids, like milk.)
Bird poop isn’t super sanitary, period, Dr. Landon says.
This is the reason.
Were not saying to avoid eggs entirely, he says.
Were just saying that maybe you need toeat eggs in the safest wayright now.
(This is not a new recommendation.
If youre a healthy adult and want runny eggs thats one thing, he says.
But if youre more vulnerable to food-borne illness, thats another.
(you could get a flu shot any time of the year!)
In a recentUSDA investigationof 109 beef samples, one tested positive for H5N1.
Farmers markets are safe as long as you refrain from buying unpasteurized dairy products, Dr. Landon says.
Just remember that typical food safety rules apply even to those local fruits and veggies, Dr. Detwiler says.
Would I lose sleep if I found out that my kid went to a petting zoo at camp?
No, but I would have them wash their hands…a lot.
What should I do if I find a dead bird?
If youre told to get rid of the bird, dont touch it with your bare hands.
At least not right now.
