The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 67 confirmed cases of bird flu in the U.S. during the ongoing outbreak, primarily involving individuals who have close contact with dairy cows and poultry.

According to CDC officials, the majority of those infected have experienced mild symptoms.

However, the bird flu virus can cause severe illness. The World Health Organization indicates that out of 950 reported human cases globally over the past two years, approximately half have resulted in fatalities.

One case involved a man from Louisiana who succumbed to the D1.1 variant earlier this year, marking him as the only U.S. fatality linked to the current bird flu outbreak.

In November, a Canadian teenager was hospitalized in critical condition due to bird flu but has since made a full recovery.

CDC officials state that the overall public health risk for H5 bird flu remains low, although they continue to monitor developments closely.

They note that individuals in close proximity to animals, including farmers, backyard bird owners, and veterinarians, face the highest risk.

William Schaffner, MD, an expert in infectious diseases and a professor at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, concurs with the CDC’s evaluation.

“The bird flu virus has not acquired the genetic ability to easily infect humans or spread efficiently between people,” he explained to Healthline.

Moreover, Schaffner pointed out that there have been no confirmed instances of person-to-person transmission in the U.S. to date.

However, not all experts share this level of certainty. One expert highlighted the significant transmission rates from birds to cattle and from birds to humans.

“I would argue that the risk of this form of the virus spilling over from cows to humans is considerable, especially since we know it has already transitioned from birds to humans,” stated Abraar Karan, MD, a post-doctorate researcher in infectious diseases at Stanford University, in a conversation with Healthline.

Karan’s perspective is echoed by Seema Lakdawala, PhD, an influenza virologist at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. “The risk has escalated, particularly in recent months with reports of severe infections,” she conveyed to the journal Nature.

Bird flu has also been detected in certain raw milk products, prompting a voluntary recall in California last November.

Fortunately, the virus has not been found in pasteurized commercial milk products, as the pasteurization process effectively eliminates the virus.

“Pasteurization has proven effective in inactivating the virus,” Karan affirmed.

“All pasteurized dairy products, such as milk, cream, yogurt, and cheese, are safe for consumption,” Schaffner emphasized. “However, there is a risk associated with unpasteurized milk and dairy products, so it’s advisable to steer clear of those.”

Concerns have also been voiced regarding the safety of beef products, yet USDA officials assert that the nation’s “stringent meat inspection protocol” ensures the safety of the meat supply.

“While we haven’t observed direct transmission from beef, I would advise against consuming raw beef at this time, even though there has been no evidence of transmission through consumption,” Karan stated.

“No risks have been associated with eating beef, but standard safety practices still apply: wash hands thoroughly, sanitize cutting boards after use, and ensure hamburgers are cooked well,” Schaffner added.

Since January 2022, the CDC has reported over 1,500 outbreaks of bird flu among poultry and wild birds across 634 counties in the United States.

These outbreaks have led to the culling of more than 145 million chickens, turkeys, and other birds to control the virus’s spread.