Can I get bird flu from eating eggs? Drinking milk? We asked a California disease expert

By Fernanda Galan, The Sacramento Bee (TNS)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — As poultry farms and dairies across California battle bird flu outbreaks, some are wondering if their food is safe to eat.

Since highly pathogenic avian influenza surfaced in the United States in January 2022, the virus has been detected in wild birds and domestic poultry, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

HPAI was detected at a Merced County turkey farm in September and infected chickens at a Tulare County ranch about a month later, leading to the destruction of hundreds of thousands of birds, The Fresno Bee previously reported.

Meanwhile, avian flu has sickened cows more than 130 dairies across California, as well as 15 dairy workers.

The Bee talked to a Fresno-based infectious disease expert to learn more about the virus — and how it affects food safety.

What is bird flu?

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, highly pathogenic avian influenza — also known as bird flu or H5N1 — is a highly contagious and often deadly disease primarily found in poultry.

It is “caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5) and A (H7) viruses,” the agency said on its website.

HPAI can spread from wild birds to domestic poultry and other animals. The virus can also infect humans in rare cases.

“It is important to note that ‘highly pathogenic’ refers to severe impact in birds, not necessarily in humans,” the agency said.

How is avian influenza spread to humans?

Unlike seasonal influenza viruses, which are typically contracted through human-to-human transmission, avian influenza viruses are spread by infected birds through saliva, mucus and feces, according to the CDC.

The virus can also be present in the respiratory secretions, organs, blood, or body fluids of other infected animals — including milk.

Human infections occur when the virus enters the eyes, nose or mouth, or is inhaled through airborne droplets, aerosol particles or dust. It can also be transmitted by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the face.

“Illness in humans from avian influenza virus infections have ranged in severity from no symptoms or mild illness to severe disease that resulted in death,” the CDC said.

Can I get bird flu by drinking milk?

“There is no evidence that the virus can be transmitted to humans through properly prepared food,” the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on its website.

Pasteurized milk and other dairy products are safe to consume, according to Hebah Ghanem, infectious disease specialist at University of California San Francisco, Fresno.

“The most important thing that it has to be pasteurized, because the virus is killed with heat,” Ghanem told The Bee.

“Pasteurization of milk was adopted decades ago as a basic public health measure to kill dangerous bacteria and largely eliminate the risk of getting sick,” the FDA said on its website.