Skip to content

Friday, Jan. 17, 2025

Can bird flu be transmitted to humans through contact with infected birds?

Deanna Pistono, MinnPost
yes

According to the Centers for Disease Control, bird flu viruses (including H5N1) can be transmitted to humans and animals through contact with infected birds, which shed the virus in their saliva, waste and mucus. Humans and animals can come into contact with the virus by interacting with infected birds and contaminated surfaces, breathing in air containing the virus and eating undercooked birds and eggs. Animals that are infected with the virus can also spread the virus to humans via bodily fluids and meat, including raw milk and beef.

While the CDC notes that human-to-human transmission of bird flu viruses is rare, it has happened in previous outbreaks in other countries. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, the H5N1 bird flu virus was found in dairy cattle in Minnesota in June 2024. No human cases or human-to-human transmissions have yet been reported within the state.

See a full discussion of this at MinnPost

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

About fact briefs

Fact briefs are bite-sized, well-sourced explanations that offer clear "yes" or "no" answers to questions, confusions, and unsupported claims circulating online. They rely on publicly available data and documents, often from the original source. Fact briefs are written and published by Gigafact contributor publications.

See all fact briefs

MinnPost is an independent, nonprofit newsroom that produces thoughtful, in-depth journalism about civic and cultural affairs impacting Minnesota. Through our reporting, we take readers beyond the headlines and deep into the issues that matter through our public-service journalism, empowering them to engage in the politics and policy-making shaping Minnesota’s future.

Learn More

Latest Fact Briefs

Be a Friend of facts

Help us fund more great fact briefs like this one.