Bird Flu cases have been reported in all 50 states!

In the almost nine months since the first human case of bird flu was glimpsed in the United States, the virus has continued to circulate. The outbreak infected millions of birds and hundreds of herds before it spread to humans.

As of this week, human cases of bird flu have been reported in all 50 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Almost all confirmed cases involve direct contact with infected livestock or cattle. A few days ago, the first death of a human bird flu patient was reported in the state of Louisiana.

The patient was over the age of 65 and had underlying medical conditions, according to health officials. So, on that note, here’s everything you need to know to keep yourself safe… and find out if you should still be eating eggs!

How will all of this impact what we eat?

The threat of bird flu has dominated public health discourse as cases become increasingly more severe and widespread. Also known as H5N1, a highly pathogenic strain, it was present in a few continents as early as 1996. Since arriving in North America at the end of 2021, this strain has impacted commercial livestock, wild animals, and humans.

As we mentioned, this week alone, the first fatal human case of H5N1 was reported in Louisiana. It was a person over 65 who was exposed to a backyard flock of birds. The CDC identified that the country’s first 46 cases in 2024 were all mild and, except for one, all caused by exposure to animals that were infected.

Health experts still argue that the current public health risk is low, but consumers are increasingly worried about how this strain of bird flu will impact our food, especially eggs. The USDA announced in March 2024 that H5N1 began affecting dairy cattle in a couple of states.

Since then, the outbreaks among cattle have continued across 16 states and spread to dozens of humans, prompting the California Governor to declare a state of emergency. The dominance of H5N1 is even more evident among commercial poultry, where cases have been identified in all 50 states.

But how will all of this impact the eggs and poultry we eat? Is it even safe to keep eating these products? Continue reading as we break down everything we know so far.

Should we still eat eggs and poultry?

When we’re talking about bird flu risk levels, buying poultry and eggs from the grocery store is on the lower end of the spectrum. The CDC argues that there hasn’t been any evidence that food can transmit H5N1 if it’s cooked and handled properly.

Even though H5N1 can potentially be found in our food, influenza isn’t a foodborne disease. You would have to breathe it in to get sick, not eat it. There’s a much more significant risk of being infected with common foodborne pathogens like Salmonella. Health experts advise thoroughly cooking your eggs to an internal temperature of about 165°F to destroy any viruses and bacteria, including this strain of bird flu.

Thoroughly cooking your chicken is something we’re all familiar with by now, but the increased precautions might influence how you consume eggs. Runny, soft, and undercooked eggs don’t reach a high enough temperature to keep away pathogens, which presents a risk of transmission.

The safest way to eat eggs is by cooking them all the way, meaning the yolk and white parts of the egg are hard. If you’re not ready to give up on runny eggs, though, experts recommend buying pasteurized shell eggs to lower the transmission risk.

It’s also best to use these types of eggs or pasteurized egg products when making recipes that don’t require you to cook eggs. Examples include homemade ice cream and salad dressings. Don’t know what to buy? Here’s a top choice from Amazon: Pasteurized AAA Grade Egg White Powder Gluten-Free OU Kosher Certified

How much has H5N1 affected our food so far?

H5N1 has presented a roadblock to the commercial dairy and livestock industry, but not exactly in a way that will get you sick. According to Brian Labus, PhD, MPH, REHS, Assistant Professor at the University of Nevada Las Vegas’s School of Public Health, we have already seen milk infected with H5N1, but pasteurization kills the virus.

And they haven’t found it in chicken, beef, or eggs. “The likelihood of H5N1 being transmitted in poultry products is incredibly low as the beginning of symptoms appear rapidly in poultry, especially turkeys, and the birds succumb to the virus pretty fast. In fact, the onset of H5N1 is so fast that experts say infected birds don’t have enough time to lay eggs before the symptoms become fatal.

Besides this, quite a few federal and industry guidelines are in place to additionally reduce the risk of H5N1 entering our food supply. So, the likelihood that eggs from infected poultry can be found in the retail market is low due to safeguards in place.

This includes testing of flocks and federal inspection programs, says the Vice President of Research for The American Egg Board. Once a commercial poultry farm is recognized as HPAI positive, the farm is placed under quarantine, and all movement of birds and eggs immediately comes to a halt. This is mandated and enforced by state veterinarians working closely with USDA.

Another thing worth noting is that egg farmers who are dealing with a bird flu outbreak can’t resume normal operations without thorough disinfecting, cleaning, testing, and approval from the USDA and the state government.

The loss in production helps prevent infected items from reaching the food supply. The downside is that it also puts a strain on the supply chain, which might increase poultry and egg prices for consumers.

Making testing more available

The US has started ramping up testing with the Department of Agriculture, issuing a federal order for fresh raw milk samples to be collected and tested all over the nation. The Food and Drug Administration has said that samples of aged raw cow’s milk cheese will be gathered for testing.

Yet, for 2025, experts believe that testing should be made more readily available to physicians, especially when flu season strikes. There are likely cases of bird flu going undiagnosed, and testing made more available in healthcare facilities would catch those that are flying under the radar.

One of the most significant issues that we’re facing, especially as we move into flu season, there’s the risk that, if a doctor wants to do influenza testing, they’re only really testing for the usual seasonal influenza, they’re not testing for bird flu. And officials worry that we’re never going to know the full extent of the situation fully.

So now that we’ve covered everything, what EXACTLY are the symptoms of bird flu in people?

While it’s still uncommon for bird flu viruses to jump to humans, people can still contract the disease through the eyes, mouth, or nose.

Sometimes, people inhale the virus after contacting an infected animal. Here are the symptoms to look for if you think you’ve been exposed:

-Mild symptoms: Sore throat, fever, body aches, cough, eye infections (like conjunctivitis or pinkeye), stuffy or runny nose, fatigue, and muscle pains.

-Severe symptoms: High fever (of 100 degrees or higher), shortness of breath, pneumonia (which requires hospitalization), and severe respiratory disease.

What are YOUR thoughts on the bird flu sweeping the nation? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below.

But don’t leave yet! If you found this article useful, we highly recommend you also read: 6 Risky FDA-Approved Store Foods That Probably Cause Food Poisoning