Is bird flu a threat? Americans don't think so

Highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, has affected many parts of the US of late. The virus has also increasingly spread to mammals and infected hundreds of people, sparking concerns that it could evolve to transmit between humans and potentially trigger a new pandemic. Despite these concerns, Americans do not seem to be bothered by its threat, says a new study.

A majority of Americans are unaware or unconcerned about the threat posed by bird flu, according to a new study and health experts have signaled a troubling gap in preparedness for a potential public health crisis. In an editorial published in the American Journal of Public Health, researchers from the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) noted that Americans don’t think bird flu is a threat.

The researchers conducted a population representative survey of US residents from August 5 to 15, 2024. The findings hinted that many were unaware of simple food safety practices that could reduce the risk of HPAI infection. They found that over half the population, which is 53.7% were unaware that pasteurized milk is safer than raw milk. About three of four respondents (71.3%) understood that cooking meat at high temperatures could eliminate harmful bacteria and viruses like H5N1.

The researchers also found that, despite the scare, over a quarter (27%) were unwilling to modify their diet to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus. Also, 28.7% of the population were reluctant to take a vaccine for H5N1, as advised by the CDC. Participants, who identified as Republicans or Independents, were less likely than Democrats to support vaccination or dietary changes. People in rural areas, who are in connection with the livestock industries, were likely to accept public health measures, including vaccination and dietary changes, compared to their urban counterparts.

“These attitudes could pose a serious obstacle to containing the virus and preventing a major public health crisis. The fact that responses vary significantly by political party and geography emphasizes the need for a carefully segmented health communications strategy to address the issue,” CUNY SPH Assistant Professor Rachael Piltch-Loeb, the study’s lead author, said.

Senior Scholar Kenneth Rabin, who has worked with health communications campaigns for more than four decades, added, “Working closely with agricultural leaders, farm communities and food processing companies will be critical, and the fact that most of the agricultural workers who are at direct risk of exposure to the bird flu virus may be undocumented could seriously jeopardize efforts to track and control the spread of infections.”

What is bird flu?

Bird flu is a disease caused by avian influenza A viruses that usually spread between birds, but it can also infect humans. Human infections are caused through direct contact with infected poultry or contaminated environments.

What are the symptoms?

The mild symptoms include:

• eye redness and irritation (conjunctivitis)
• mild fever (temperature of 100ºF [37.8ºC] or greater) or feeling feverish*,
• cough
• sore throat
• runny or stuffy nose
• muscle or body aches
• headaches
• fatigue

Moderate to severe disease includes symptoms such as:

• high fever
• shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• altered consciousness.
• seizures