Bird flu on the rise in U.S., could be concern for humans

The Brief

The rise of bird flu in the U.S. is the cause of the recent spike in the prices of eggs, according to experts.
Doctors caution that the bird flu can infect humans and is showing the potential for another pandemic over the next few years.
Doctors advise how to avoid the disease, including proper hygiene.

TAMPA, Fla. – The recent rise in egg prices is being linked to the ongoing spread of bird flu, a virus primarily affecting chickens and other poultry.

<div>Chickens are being kept in close quarters.</div> — Chickens are being kept in close quarters.

While the flu mainly impacts animals, there are growing concerns over its potential to infect humans, particularly if the virus mutates.

U.S. sees rise in bird flu

The backstory

This year, the bird flu outbreak has affected all 50 states, raising alarms among experts.

“If you look at how much chicken America consumes and if we’re having to kill or cull a million birds out of one of these large areas, that’s a big economic impact,” Dr. John Sinnott, an infectious disease specialist at TGH and USF, said. “Prices go up. People’s diets get thrown off.”

<div>Dr. John Sinnott speaking with FOX 13 News.</div> — Dr. John Sinnott speaking with FOX 13 News.

Doctors urging caution

What’s next

Although bird flu is rare in humans, Sinnott says virus mutations could make it more contagious.

“There’s a very definite concern that it could mutate into a strain that infects humans,” Sinnott said. “This is a very serious infection. It’s much like regular everyday influenza.”

Sinnott went on to describe symptoms patients report having when infected.

<div>What bird flu looks like under a microscope.</div> — What bird flu looks like under a microscope.

“Patients say, ‘I was well until 2:00 in the afternoon and boom, I had a fever, a sore throat, and I hurt all over. At 6:00, I went to the emergency room. At 9:00, I was in the ICU.’ It’s very fast.”

To reduce the risk of infection, Sinnott recommends practicing standard precautions, such as washing hands, wearing masks in crowded areas, and avoiding contact with sick animals.

Risks of another pandemic

Why you should care

He also said the threat of a major pandemic remains a real concern, with an estimated 10 to 12% chance each year that the virus could spread to humans from animals.

“I think within the next six or seven years, I think an event will occur where it becomes prevalent in the human population, and then we’ll have a situation like Covid all over again,” Sinnott warned.

The Source

FOX 13’s Evyn Moon collected the information in this article courtesy of Dr. John Sinnott.