My cousin lives in a more rural area and raises chickens primarily as pets, but he and his wife do consume the eggs and share some with their friends and neighbors. He informs me that there seems to be a scourge of bird flu in the nation and that if it continues that it could lead to several issues starting with rising, if not exorbitant, egg and chicken prices, as well as a considerable risk to people. Is this true? What should people know about this potential issue that does not seem to get that much news coverage? On top of the pandemic, is this something that we all should be concerned with?
What you are referring to recently did get some press coverage — and it is a highly contagious and devastating viral bird flu that is quite deadly in birds. Typical methods of control is done by the culling of bird flocks. The current strain is known as the H5N1 strain of avian flu and it can rapidly destroy a commercial poultry operation, affecting chickens as well as turkeys. Controls are enforced by the USDA and for good reason. This virus can also affect humans. In the last month alone, cases have been found at 10 farms in four states.
As you suggest, one of the possible outcomes of this getting out of control would be the creation of a shortage of consumable products with serious economic effects. It is believed that spread is occurring due to transmission by the wild bird population that usually do not seem to be affected by the virus. Clinical signs in birds include clear severe signs of illness and often sudden death. These outbreaks are not limited just to our nation as it has been seen to crop up, no pun intended, in other countries as well, most recently in Spain. As for transmission to people, the risk is not that high since most people do not interact regularly with poultry or wild birds, but it exists all the same. If humans do get exposed, the birds or their feces, feathers or parts need to be infected and then person-to-person transmission is also possible.
Bird flu is rare in people and is manifested as a more typical flu with the commonly known signs. Unfortunately, despite relatively low morbidity in humans, the mortality rate can get quite high. If this H5N1 strain truly became a serious public health concern, the authorities would make sure the public was well aware of the prevalence and risk and further precautions would be implemented. For now, I would not be too concerned with the bird flu as we all have enough to worry about with COVID. Diagnosing and controlling something like the bird flu is one more example of how veterinarians serve the public in so many ways. Thanks for the question.
Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic. He can be reached at 781-899-9994.
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March 13, 2022 at 12:21PM
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Keeping an eye on bird flu outbreak - Boston Herald
"bird" - Google News
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