Bird Flu: What You Need to Know About Risks, Realities, and Readiness

Bird flu, or highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), has far-reaching effects on public health, the food supply, and even the global economy. While human-to-human transmission hasn’t occurred, its potential to mutate poses significant concerns. Understanding how bird flu impacts us today — and how science is working to mitigate its risks — is essential.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the realities of bird flu, its effects on food prices, the role of vaccines, and practical tips to stay safe. Let’s break it down into manageable pieces so you’re fully informed.

What Is Bird Flu, and Why Should You Care?

Bird flu primarily affects birds, especially poultry, like chickens and turkeys. However, certain strains, such as H5N1, have occasionally infected humans. While these cases are rare, they carry a high mortality rate of over 50%, making the virus particularly dangerous if contracted.

Why Human-to-Human Transmission Matters

Here’s the good news: Bird flu isn’t currently spreading from person to person. The bad news? Experts worry about a process called reassortment, where bird flu and human flu viruses could mix in someone infected with both. This could result in a highly contagious and deadly strain capable of causing a pandemic.

Despite some conspiracy theories, no laboratory is working on gain-of-function research to make bird flu more transmissible. These myths are counterproductive, distracting from real medical efforts to monitor and control the virus.

Rising Prices: How Bird Flu Impacts Your Wallet

If you’ve noticed higher prices at the grocery store, bird flu is partly to blame. The virus has disrupted the poultry industry and the broader food supply chain.

Egg Prices Soar

When bird flu outbreaks occur, millions of chickens are culled to prevent the virus from spreading. This reduction in supply causes egg prices to skyrocket, leaving many of us paying more for our morning omelets.

Dairy Costs Climb

Bird flu also affects dairy products. The demand for poultry feed drives up costs for dairy farmers, who often rely on the same feed. Additionally, in rare cases, parts of the bird flu virus have been detected in raw milk. This is yet another reason to avoid raw, unpasteurized milk and stick to pasteurized dairy products for safety.

The Role of Vaccines: Science in Action

Vaccines are at the heart of our response to bird flu, but they serve different purposes for birds and humans.

Vaccines for Poultry

Scientists are developing vaccines for poultry to control the virus in bird populations. These vaccines could:

• Reduce the need for mass culling.
• Lower the economic impact on the poultry industry.
• Decrease the risk of the virus spilling over into humans or other animals.

While these efforts are promising, it will take time before poultry vaccines are widely implemented.

Vaccines for Humans

For humans, H5N1 vaccines are available for at-risk workers like poultry farmers and wildlife handlers. However:

• These vaccines are strain-specific and may not protect against a mutated strain.
• They are not available to the general public.
• In the event of a pandemic, new vaccines would need to be developed, which takes time.

Seasonal Flu Vaccines: Why They Still Matter

You might wonder, “If the flu shot doesn’t protect against bird flu, why get it?” The answer lies in preventing co-infections.

When someone is sick with both seasonal flu and bird flu, there’s a risk the two viruses could mix, creating a new, more dangerous strain. By getting your flu shot, you reduce your chances of catching seasonal flu, which helps minimize this risk. Remember, vaccines are not about completely preventing illness; they’re about reducing severe outcomes like hospitalization and death.

Practical Tips: How to Stay Safe

Whether you’re a hunter, backyard birder, or just someone who loves eggs, here’s how to reduce your risk:

For Hunters

• Avoid handling sick or dead birds. Report them to local authorities.
• Use gloves and masks when field dressing game, and disinfect tools afterward.
• Cook wild birds to an internal temperature of 165°F (73.8°C) to kill viruses.

For Backyard Bird Feeders

• Clean bird feeders and baths regularly with soap and disinfectant.
• Avoid contact with bird droppings; wear gloves during cleaning.
• Keep pets, especially cats, away from areas frequented by wild birds.

For Pet Owners

Cats are surprisingly vulnerable to bird flu. They can contract the virus by hunting infected birds or contacting bird droppings. To protect your pets:

• Keep cats indoors during outbreaks.
• Monitor them for symptoms like lethargy or respiratory distress.
• Consult a vet if your cat shows any signs of illness.

General Food Safety

• Always cook poultry and eggs thoroughly to an internal temperature of 165°F (73.8°C).
• Avoid raw, unpasteurized milk and stick to pasteurized dairy products.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after handling birds or poultry products.

Science Evolves: Trust the Process

In science, recommendations change as we learn more. This isn’t a sign of uncertainty but a testament to how science adapts to new evidence. The same applies to vaccines — their primary purpose is to prevent severe illness and death, not to guarantee you won’t get sick. Trust in the scientific process is vital as we navigate complex challenges like bird flu.

Stay Updated

Bird flu isn’t just a health issue; it’s a food and economic issue, too. The virus has already disrupted poultry and dairy markets, and its potential to mutate keeps public health experts on high alert. Fortunately, science is actively working on solutions, from vaccines to monitoring programs.

For regular updates on bird flu, follow me on TikTok and Instagram at @drterrysimpson, where I share timely insights and tips. And don’t forget to subscribe to my podcast, Fork U, for in-depth discussions about science, health, and smart eating.

Final Thoughts

Bird flu poses significant challenges, but by staying informed and following practical steps, we can protect ourselves and our communities. Whether it’s understanding vaccine roles, debunking myths, or adapting to rising food prices, knowledge is the first line of defense.

Thank you for reading! Stay safe, stay informed, and remember that prevention is the best recipe for a healthy life.

>> Dr. Terry Simpson: Today we're diving into the bird flu,

a virus with far reaching implications on public

health, food supply, and

pandemic preparedness. We'll discuss its

effect upon food prices, vaccines for

poultry and humans, and the steps you can take to

stay safe. Whether you're just someone wanting

to know how to prepare your chicken, whether you have

outdoor bird feeders, whether you're a hunter, we'll help

you out. Along the way, I'll debunk some myths and explain why

evolving science is our greatest tool in addressing these

risks.

I am your Chief Medical Explanationist, Dr. Terry Simpson,

and this is Forku Fork University,

where we make sense of the madness, bust a few myths, and teach

you a little bit about food and medicine.

If this sounds familiar,

yes, I am worried.

Before I was a surgeon, I was a virologist, and I'm actually

published in the field. Never did I think before

2020 that those roles would intersect. And I

hoped after 2020 I would not have to think

about pandemics again. In

February of 2020, I was asked on KTAR radio

in Phoenix if I was afraid of this new virus

called COVID 19. And I said I

was. I even said that I was so much

concerned that I canceled a flight from California to

Phoenix to see my mom and dad and instead was

driving there. 2020 was

awful, and in the hospital were hundreds of

patients sick and dying. From COVID

19, I would go to the hospital in

scrubs, put on lots of protective gear,

and before I went home, which were usually long 18

hours, days, would strip out of those scrubs at the hospital,

shower at the hospital, put on fresh scrubs, go home,

shower and change again. Those

were the days when the very breath of someone infected

could kill you. When the new

vaccine arrived in California, I pushed

my way into line to get it on December

18th. This was a frustrating

time. Lots of burnouts from many of us in the

medical field. I remember going home after taking

care of sick people and seeing how people on Facebook

would tell me that I was wrong, that there was no problem,

that COVID 19 was just a farce, or that I had a

political agenda. It was frustrating.

And many nurses, doctors, respiratory

therapists, um, and others left the field of medicine because

people didn't see what we saw in the hospital.

It wasn't just a disease of the old and

feeble Bird flu, if it

mutates, can be potentially worse.

So let's talk about it. Bird flu,

also known as a highly pathogenic avian

influenza, or the acronym is

hpai. That's avian not

alien. It affects birds, but can occasionally jump

to humans. And while human to human

transmission has not been observed, the virus has

a high mortality rate of over 50% in

confirmed human cases, making it a serious

concern. Consider that COVID 19

that has killed over 1.3 million people in the United

States had a mortality rate of about

1%. The greatest fear in public

health is that bird flu could mix with seasonal flu

through a process called reassortment, creating a new

strain capable of spreading easily between

humans. This is why monitoring preventing outbreaks

in birds, poultry, and other animals is

crucial. Let me address a common

misperception. There is no laboratory

currently working on gain of function research for bird

flu. Gain of function means that the function would

change in the virus to make it more transmissible to human.

That is not occurring. Claims like this are conspiracy

theories that distract from real medical efforts.

Instead, scientists are focusing on surveillance,

prevention and developing solutions like

antivirals and vaccines. Spreading false

claims undermines public trust and distracts

from practical advice.

Let's start with how you've seen bird flu impact

you. It doesn't just affect health, but it

disrupts the economy and has already. Egg

prices are probably what you have seen most. The

culling of, uh, millions of chickens because of infection of

bird flu has drastically reduced egg supplies,

causing prices to skyrocket. This has

also affected dairy prices because of increased

food costs for the animals and because of

increased risks of milk.

So you're probably going to see higher milk and cheese prices in the near

future. Additionally, bird flu

viruses have been detected, partial

viruses in pasteurized milk.

This means it's even more dangerous in raw milk that hasn't

been pasteurized. Pasteurization,

which raises the temperature of milk to, uh, about

40 degrees below boiling for 12 seconds.

Pasteurization completely

eliminates the infectivity of any

virus. So please avoid drinking raw,

unpasteurized milk and avoid raw

and unpasteurized cheese.

What about the role of vaccines? You know, they have

always played a critical role in managing health risk, but

let's clarify their purpose. Vaccines are

not about completely preventing illness.

They're not a bubble you put around you and you won't get

sick. But instead, the aim is to

significantly reduce the risk of severe

disease, hospitalizations, and death. And they

do that well. This is true for seasonal flu

vaccine, COVID 19 vaccine, and any potential

vaccines for bird flu. Why do we have to keep making

new vaccines for COVID 19 and influenza? Because

they rapidly mutate. And when they rapidly mutate, we need

to bring in the next bird version of the vaccine.

Science evolves over time and adapting to new

information and challenges. The flexibility of science isn't a

flaw, it's a strength. Public health

recommendations may change as we learn more about viruses like

bird flu, but that's okay. The

only dogmas occur in religion and people who have a

set point of view that don't want to change with the times.

Trust in this process of scientific evolution

because it's essential in protecting ourselves and our

communities.

What about vaccines? Scientists are developing

bird flu vaccines for poultry to control the

virus in bird populations. We want to reduce the need for

culling and the economic impact to the poultry industry.

Lower the risk of virus spilling over to humans and other animals.

It hasn't been developed yet, but it's in the process. What about

vaccines for human While there are

H5N1 and that's the designation we use for the

bird flu and that has to do with the

antibodies and the antigen spikes, they are

stockpiled for at risk workers such as poultry farmers and

wildlife handlers. However, these vaccines are

strain specific and may not protect against new

mutations. Just like every year we have a new influenza

vaccine, we may need a new H5N1

vaccine if it makes the jump to where it can be

transmitted from human to human. Those

vaccines aren't available to the general public, and they would likely not

prevent a pandemic caused by a mutated strain capable of

human to human transmission. But this underscores why

prevention and monitoring are crucial to stopping bird flu

before it becomes a broader threat.

What about hunters, backyard bird feeders and pet owners? For

hunters, you need to avoid handling

sick or dead birds. Use gloves and masks

when field dressing game and disinfect your

tools afterwards. Cooking wild birds to an

internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit

or 73.8 degrees centigrade will kill

the virus. For backyard Bird Feeders

Clean your bird feeders and baths regularly with soap and

disinfectant. Avoid contact with bird droppings.

Wear gloves during the cleaning and consider wearing

an um, N, M95 or K95 mask.

Keep your pets away from areas frequented by

wild birds. For pet owners know that cats

are particularly vulnerable to bird flu,

often contacting it by hunting infected birds

or contacting bird breeding droppings. The

mortality rates among cats is very high,

so if you're having an outbreak in your area, your outdoor cat

needs to become an indoor cat and monitoring them for

symptoms like lethargy or respiratory distress,

consulting a vet if needed. There are some

general CDC recommendations. Cooking

poultry and eggs thoroughly ensuring a temperature of

165Fahrenheit or 73.8

centigrade. Avoid handling dead birds. Report

them to wildlife authorities like your local fish and game.

Wash your hands thoroughly after handling birds or

poultry products. Stick to pasteurized

dairy, avoiding raw milk, raw cheese to avoid minimal

exposure to the pathogens. Let's

recap Human to human

transmission of bird flu hasn't occurred, but

the virus has such a high mortality rate the

mutation could cause a more serious pandemic than we are

currently in with COVID While there are

poultry vaccines in development and

H5N1 vaccines exist for at risk workers,

they will not help if we have a new mutation that

causes human to human transmission. Bird

flu has raised eggs and dairy prices

due to culling and feed disruptions in the

economy. Expect this will continue until we

develop poultry vaccines. We

cannot develop a vaccine

against wild birds,

so wild birds are still going to be a vector or

a transmissible agent for bird flu.

Stay safe with hygiene and

vaccination and remember, the vaccines are about

reducing outcomes, not eliminating illness

entirely. Trust the science as it evolves.

It's our best defense. It's our best

process. And finally, if you want regular updates

about the bird flu, you can follow me on TikTok as long as we

have it anyway and Instagram. My handle ON Both

is Dr. Terry Simpson, where I will share

some timely insights, practical tips and keep you up to

date with the latest recommendation. And don't forget to

subscribe to this podcast for more comprehensive discussions not only

about science and health, but eating smart and

healthy. Please check out the

website associated with this podcast or my blog which is

YourDoctorsOrders.com or

4Q.com thank you for tuning in to

4Q. Stay informed, stay safe and remember,

prevention is our best recipe for a healthy

life. Until next time, eat smart, stay vigilant

and always keep your forks and knowledge sharp.

This podcast was researched and written

by me, Dr. Terry Simpson and while I am a physician, I

am not your physician. If you are sick or need

more help understanding this, please see a regularly board

certified Western trained physician. Not a

chiropractor, not some weird eastern thought

because because they don't have anything that will help you that much.

They've never helped during a pandemic and won't

again. I want to thank the distributors of this

podcast, Simpler Media and my friend the pod God,

Mr. Evo Terra. Until next time, stay

safe out there.

Hey Evo, I don't know if you've seen egg prices

jump where you are, but, man, it's

pretty bad here. I'm eating mostly beans for

breakfast. I hope you're doing well.

>> Speaker B: Yeah, I'm kind of less concerned about the egg

prices, which, sure, they're up, but

more concerned about

another pandemic. Terry,

really,

I need off this plan.