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H5N1 (Bird Flu)

Overview

H5N1 (Bird Flu)

H5N1, also known as bird flu has been circulating in California since 2022 and is present in the Bay Area. While the risk of infection in people is low, those who are routinely in close contact with birds or dairy cows should take steps to protect themselves from exposure. 

Bird flu has been detected in a local backyard flock. While there are currently no human cases of H5N1 from this instance, San Mateo County’s Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures is advising backyard poultry owners to watch for signs of avian influenza in their flock and to take appropriate biosecurity measures such as washing hands before and after handling birds and disinfecting footwear to reduce the risk of spreading bird flu. Read more here.

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Protecting Yourself from Bird Flu

What is H5N1 “bird flu?”

H5N1 bird flu is a specific strain or type of influenza virus. H5N1 bird flu is also called highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). H5N1 bird flu can infect wild birds, poultry and mammals such as cows. Human infections with H5N1 bird flu are rare, but the spread of the virus may lead to changes that make it more likely to infect humans.

At this point, there is no evidence that H5N1 spreads easily person-to-person. Since viruses can change over time, this is being closely monitored.