CBS News – From worries about food safety to egg prices, Americans have questions about the bird flu.
To help break down the latest, Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News medical contributor and editor-at-large for public health at KFF Health News, shared what to know on “CBS Mornings Plus” Thursday.
How does bird flu spread? Can people get bird flu?
Bird flu can infect birds as well as mammals, including pigs, cattle and cats. People can also get infected when they come into close contact with infected animals, which is why farm workers are at high risk for infection.
“They work in the dairy industry. They have milk all over them because they’re milking the cows. They’re working with poultry. So when they come into close contact, like that, whether it’s through breathing or contact with their hands, their eyes, etc., that’s how they’re getting it,” Gounder said.
So far, the spread has only been from animal to human.
Health officials have said for months that while the spread of the virus in animals warrants stepping up precautions for workers dealing with sick cows and birds, the risk to the general public remains low.
Still, experts are worried about the virus mutating as it spreads, making new hybrid strains that could lead to human-to-human spread.
Does bird flu affect eggs?
Bird flu continues to affect the availability and price of eggs as the disease hits farms and wipes out flocks.
Last year, bird flu killed more than 40 million egg-laying birds. Including ducks and chickens, 148 million birds have been ordered euthanized since H5N1 began spreading around the U.S. in 2022
When it comes to eggs and milk, Gounder said cooking and pasteurizing is the safest way forward …
