Avian Influenza

Current events | How does it spread | What can I do? | PPE | Hunting | Backyard Flocks | Resources

Avian influenza (bird flu) is a disease caused by infection with avian (bird) influenza (flu) Type A viruses. These viruses occur naturally in wild aquatic birds, but can also infect poultry (such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese and guinea fowl) and other bird species, as well as wildlife and domestic animals. Bird flu viruses can also infect people and make them sick. This typically has only happened to people who have had close contact with avian influenza-infected birds or other animals or to environments where infected animals are or have been present.

Current events

A strain of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been circulating in wild birds around the world and was first detected in the U.S. in January 2022. This avian influenza strain has also infected domestic poultry, including commercial and backyard flocks, as well as wild and domestic mammals, including dairy cattle and domestic cats. It was first identified in Washington state in a backyard flock in May 2022.

Public health officials work closely with local, state, and federal partners to monitor avian influenza in Washington state. Public health officials identify people exposed to infected animals to provide prevention recommendations, conduct symptom monitoring, and provide testing and treatment when indicated. The first human cases of H5 avian influenza were reported in Washington state in October 2024. To date, there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission of avian influenza in Washington state.

Human avian influenza cases in Washington state residents*
  Total human cases (H5) Known Exposure: Poultry, Bovine, Other
 ,  ,  ,   Confirmed Total human cases (H5) 11 Known Exposure: Poultry, Bovine, Other Poultry
 ,  ,  ,   Probable Total human cases (H5) 3 Known Exposure: Poultry, Bovine, Other Poultry
 ,  ,  ,   Total Total human cases (H5) 14 Known Exposure: Poultry, Bovine, Other  
  • Total human cases include both confirmed and probable cases of novel influenza A.
  • Washington residency could not be confirmed for one case with exposure to poultry in Washington.*

*Updates to national public health reporting and notification of novel influenza A infections were approved by the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) in June 2024 and enacted in September 2024. Whether a case is counted as confirmed or probable is determined after completion of a public health case investigation and takes into account a person's exposure to avian influenza virus, whether confirmatory testing at the CDC was negative or positive, and whether a person experienced symptoms of illness. The specific criteria used to determine if a case is confirmed, or probable is based on a standardized case definition for public health surveillance which allows states to apply the same criteria and to count cases in the same manner for national reporting.

What's happened and where?

How does avian influenza spread from birds and animals to people?

Birds and other animals infected with avian influenza shed the virus in their saliva, mucous and feces. Infected dairy cattle also shed the virus in milk. People can become infected if the virus gets into a person’s eyes, nose or mouth or if it is breathed in.

Bird flu infections in people are rare and most commonly occur after prolonged contact with infected birds or other animals while not wearing appropriate personal protective equipment.

How can my backyard birds spread the flu?

How bird flu spreads from poultry to people infographic
H5N1 Bird Flu Potential Transmission Route

Should I be concerned?

  • CDC currently considers the risk to the general public's health to be low. However, people with close or prolonged contact with infected birds or animals or their environments are at higher risk of infection and should be aware of the risk of exposure to avian influenza so that they can take proper precautions and wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
  • Sporadic human cases and clusters of cases infected with the currently circulating H5N1 strain have been reported worldwide and within the United States. To-date, most people infected with H5N1 report significant contact with infected animals, or with heavily contaminated environments where infected animals have been present, and human-to-human transmission is not suspected. For more information, see the CDC's H5 Bird Flu: Current Situation webpage.
  • As a precautionary measure, people who have had known contact with infected birds or other animals will be contacted by public health to discuss exposure risk and symptom monitoring to ensure prompt testing and treatment of any suspected human cases.

What can I do?

  • You should wear recommend personal protective equipment (PPE) if you have direct or close (within six feet) contact with sick or dead wild and domesticated animals, their feces, or anything in their environment or when entering any structures where there are sick or dead animals present.
  • If you need to clean up bird feces, such as underneath a bird feeder or on outdoor furniture,  wear gloves and use a disinfectant such as 1 part bleach to 10 parts water or a benzalkonium chloride-based commercial disinfectant (such as Lysol spray or a similar product). Thoroughly wet the area to be cleaned with the disinfectant and allow it to sit for 5-10 minutes before wiping with a disposable cloth or paper towel. Discard used cloths or towels in a sealing trash can. Wash hands with soap and water immediately.
  • Do not prepare or eat uncooked or undercooked food or related uncooked food products, such as unpasteurized (raw) milk, or raw cheeses.
  • Do not feed raw (unpasteurized) milk or dairy products or raw or undercooked pet foods to your pets. 

Recommended PPE and how to safely remove it

Schematic to show personal protective equipment (PPE)
Description of safety procedures with personal protective equipment (PPE)

Hunting

  • Hunters should follow standard safety steps to avoid potential exposure to avian influenza and other viruses or bacteria. Hunters' Fact Sheet (PDF)

Pets and Bird Flu

  • Bird flu viruses can infect and spread to other animals, including pets. Cats appear to be particularly susceptible to severe illness from infection with bird flu viruses.
  • To prevent illness in cats:
    • Prevent cats from hunting wild birds or other mammals.
    • Do not feed raw (unpasteurized) milk or dairy products or raw or undercooked meat or pet foods to your pets. Learn more about recent raw pet food recalls on the WSDA Recalls and Health Alerts page.
    • If you have exposure to animals possibly infected with bird flu outside of your home, follow recommendations on personal protective equipment use and never bring or  wear clothing or equipment used around infected animals home.
  • If your pet is showing signs of illness, contact your veterinarian. Signs of bird flu illness in cats can include fever, fatigue, low appetite, red eyes, discharge from the eyes and nose, difficulty breathing, and neurologic symptoms like tremors, seizures, incoordination, or blindness.
  • Follow these recommendations while your cat is experiencing symptoms of illness to best prevent potential spread of avian influenza to other people or animals in your home:
    • If able, isolate your cat in a room separated from other animals and people in the household; do not allow your cat to go outdoors.
    • Avoid unprotected contact with an infected cat and surfaces that may be contaminated with their saliva, mucous, or feces, including when cleaning their litterbox.
    • Wash your hands after handling your cat, feeding your cat, and cleaning their environment (e.g., litterbox).
    • Limit the number of people caring for your cat. Avoid having anyone at high risk of severe illness, including children under 5 years of age, adults over 65 years of age, and pregnant or immunocompromised people, care for your cat.

Sick and dead wildlife

  • Avoid contact with sick or dead wildlife when possible. If you need to dispose of a dead bird, wear a well-fitting face mask and disposable gloves. Use an inside-out plastic bag to pick up the carcass. Double-bag the carcass and throw it away in a sealing trash can. Wash hands with soap and water immediately.
  • Report sick/dead domestic birds to the Washington State Department of Agriculture's Avian Health Program: 1-800-606-3056.
  • Report sick/dead domestic animals to the Washington State Department of Agriculture through their online reporting form.

You and your flock or farm

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

If you are a backyard flock owner, the following resources can help you protect yourself at home: Prevent avian influenza: keep yourself and your family safe with PPE (PDF)

Available PPE for commercial dairy producers, poultry producers, milk processing facilities, and slaughterhouses:

Washington state has PPE in stock and can make it available to your commercial facility upon request. Currently, available PPE includes disposable gloves, N95 masks, and eye protection including safety goggles and face shields. PPE items not currently available that an employer would need to provide include: fluid-resistant coveralls, head cover or hair cover, and boot covers or boots that can be disinfected. Additional outer work gloves to protect disposable gloves may also be needed depending on the type of exposure or work activities. This is a one-time provision of PPE. Should you have sick animals or a detection of H5N1 on your farm, this may serve as a stopgap until you can order more and in an ongoing way.

Once you complete the online DOH PPE Request Form, we will fill the order and cover shipping of the PPE which will be provided to the address you provide. The amount of PPE that is sent will be calculated based on the number of employees and farm personnel (veterinarians, nutritionists, consultants, etc.) that are entered into the online order form.

How will I know about new information?

We will update our website with new health-related information as needed.

Resources