Bird flu, or the H5N1 strain of Influenza A, has been spreading among wildlife in Illinois over the past year, impacting egg prices and supply. The virus is known to affect birds and cattle, and also can affect humans who encounter these animals.
“For people in the general population, the risk is very low,” said Mclean County Health Department Administrator Jessica McKnight, who confirmed McLean County currently has no reported animal or human cases of bird flu.
“What we’re seeing with this current outbreak is primarily those who are occupationally dealing with birds or dairy cattle — those are the ones where we’re seeing the very few human cases of bird flu,” McKnight said.
Bird flu has been a concern since the late 1990s. Wild birds are the primary carriers. McKnight said farmers can take preventative measures, including using personal protective equipment to avoid being infected by livestock.
“Things like goggles, gloves, gowns," she said, "but also making sure they’re keeping an eye on their shoes."
McKnight suggests removing shoes to prevent bringing the virus inside by coming in contact with secretion materials like mucus or feces. Bird flu spread in poultry also can impact food supply, "but again, in terms of the human impact —the human risk — it is still very low,” she said.
Humans who are infected with the virus will experience common flu symptoms like a fever, fatigue, sore throat and congestion, McKnight said, which are symptoms similar to conjunctivitis or pink eye and are typically mild in humans. But viruses can change over time.
“With H5N1, it’s something that’s been around for quite a while," she said. “It’s not something that’s like [Covid-19] where it was a novel, new [coronavirus]."
McKnight said the county is working with health care partners, including veterinarians, to monitor the virus and any potential mutations.
“We’re looking at the risk to humans, any transmission that could potentially happen to humans and if there is any exposure or transmission that could potentially happen to humans," she said.
