Bird flu

Contact your local health department if you think you've been exposed to Bird Flu.

​​​En Español: Para obtener informació​n sobre la influenza aviar en Español, visite nuestra ​pág​ina de gripe aviar​. ​

Current Bird Flu Situation

  • ​​​​The current risk to the public remains low.

  • No person-to-person spread of bird flu has been detected in California.

  • People rarely get bird flu, but those who interact​ with infected dairy cows, poultry, or wildlife ​have a greater risk of infection.​​

  • Pasteurized milk and dairy products are safe to consume. Pasteurization inactivates the bird flu virus.​​

  • CDPH is working to protect public health related to bird flu. We monitor infection data, evolving science, and the people affected. Our knowledge will change as we learn more. We are committed to reducing the impact to those at highest risk.

Human Cases in California​

​​​​​​​Confirmed Human Cases​
38

​The last human case reported in California was on January 14, 2025.

California has 1 additional probable case with dairy cow exposure that meets the  Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) ​probable case definition (PDF)​. That case tested positive by a local lab and confirmatory testing at CDC was negative.​​

Confirmed human case summary during the 2024 outbreak, by exposure source.

​Cattle​​​​
 ​Poultry
 ​Unknown​
 ​Total
​36
 ​0
 ​2
 ​38


Contact Us

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, submit an inquiry.

If you’re a member of the media and have a question for CDPH, email Media@cdph.ca.gov​.​​​

California’s Response


  • On December 18, 2024, Governor Newsom proclaimed a State of Emergency to strengthen California's robust response to bird flu.

  • CDPH is working with local, state and federal partners to monitor bird flu in farm animals and people who work closely with poultry and dairy cows.

  • California has distributed protective gear to dairy farms and workers. People who work with infected dairy cows or raw milk should use protective gear to reduce the risk of getting bird flu.

  • Public health leaders are helping ensure individuals with symptoms of bird flu have access to testing and treatment, if needed.

  • California has received 5,000 additional seasonal flu vaccines for people who work with dairy cows in the Central Valley. The seasonal flu vaccine protects against serious illness from seasonal flu and may reduce the chance of human and bird flu viruses mixing and becoming more dangerous.

  • Updated flu and COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for everyone 6 months and older. Visit MyTurn to schedule a vaccine appointment or get tested for Bird Flu.


​​What is Bird Flu?

Bird flu, also known as avian influenza A (H5N1) or highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), is caused by a virus that can cause serious illness and death in birds and mammals. Human infections with bird flu viruses are rare, but they can happen when the virus gets into a person's eyes, nose, mouth, or when inhaled.

What are the symptoms of bird flu in humans?

  • Eye redness or discharge
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Muscle or body aches
  • ​Headaches
  • Fatigue
  • Trouble breathing
  • Fever (100°F or higher)
  • Pneumonia
  • Seizures​

Symptoms can be serious and lead to death.

Who is at higher risk of getting bird flu?

People who work with or are around animals infected with bird flu or raw milk are at higher risk. ​This includes any contact with animal fluids, feces, feathers, or their environments.

Those at higher risk include:

Farmworkers who:

  • Work with dairy cows
  • Work with poultry
  • Handle raw dairy products
  • Work in slaughterhouses
  • Work in hatcheries

Wildlife Workers

  • Wildlife rehabilitation center staff and volunteers
  • Pest management and animal removal personnel
  • Animal control officers and shelter staff
  • Zoo staff and volunteers

Other groups

  • ​Slaughterhouse workers
  • Rendering plant workers
  • Live bird market workers
  • Veterinary clinic staff
  • ​Persons with sick backyard flocks

Wildlife workers, please see Bird Flu: Working wit​h Wildlife (PDF, 2.3MB) for more information.

​How does bird flu spread?

It spreads from sick cows, birds, or other infected animals to people by:

  • ​Breathing in dust or droplets with the virus.
  • Splashing raw milk from an infected cow in your eyes, nose or mouth.
  • Touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands after:
    • Touching raw milk, cow or bird feces, or other contaminated items or surfaces.
    • Handling sick or dead animals infected with the virus.
  • ​​Drinking raw milk.

Bird flu spreads from cows through contact with infected materials, then touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.

Bird flu spreads from birds through contact with infected materials, then touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.How do I avoid getting bird flu?

  • Avoid contact with infected animals.  Avoid direct contact with birds and other animals that could be infected with bird flu. Wild birds can be infected with bird flu even if they don't look sick.

  • Get the seasonal flu vaccine. CDPH recommends that all Californians, especially workers at risk for exposure to bird flu, receive a seasonal flu vaccine. While the seasonal flu vaccine will not protect against bird flu, getting vaccinated can lower the risk of being infected with both seasonal flu and bird flu at the same time. Getting vaccinated also reduces the chance of severe illness from seasonal flu.

  • ​Only consume pasteurized dairy products. The bird flu virus can be present in raw, unpasteurized milk. Unpasteurized milk may contain other germs that can make you sick. Do not touch or consume raw milk or raw milk products. Pasteurized milk and dairy foods are safe to eat.

  • Cook poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165°F. There is no evidence that humans can get bird flu through properly prepared poultry and eggs cooked to the correct temperature. The chance of infected poultry or eggs entering the retail market is low. There are safeguards like testing of flocks and federal inspection programs. This makes it unlikely an infected bird or eggs from an infected bird will reach consumers.​

How do I protect myself​?

If you must have contact with birds, cows, cats, ​​other animals or their environments, wear recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) and take extra precautions.

This includes:

  • Wearing PPE
    • Goggles or face shield
    • NIOSH® approved respirator
    • Gloves
    • Coveralls
    • Head cover
    • Boots
  • ​​​​Working outdoors or in well-ventilated indoor environments.
  • Washing your hands after contact with animals or their environments and before taking breaks or eating/drinking.
  • Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoiding kissing or putting birds, or other animals suspected to have bird flu near face.
  • Wearing dedicated work clothing and footwear and washing them to keep on-site if possible.
  • Changing clothes and footwear and showering after work.
  • Monitor yourself and family members for signs of influenza-like illness for 10 days after last contact with an ill animal. Report any illness to your health care provider.

See Worker Protection from Bird Flu (PDF, 1.9MB) for more information.

What if I have symptoms of bird flu?

  • Tell your employer right away.
  • Contact your local public health department right away to arrange for testing and treatment. Tell them you may have been exposed to bird flu.
    • When testing, you may get a few swabs taken. If you have an eye infection, an eye swab may be taken. In exposed persons with eye infections, eye swabs are most likely to detect bird flu.
  • ​For information about worker rights, such as workers compensation or paid sick leave, visit CalOSHA's What Workers Need to Know About Bird Flu​.

See Guidance for People with Possible or Confirmed Bird Flu Infection for specific information about what to do if you have symptoms of bird flu.

Bird Flu in California

  • CDPH has been closely monitoring the bird flu situation in both animals and humans since the state's first detection in poultry in 2022.
  • ​​​CDPH has provided ​PPE for dairy farm workers and others handling raw dairy products, as well as slaughterhouse and ​poultry farm workers.

​Resources

CDPH

Cal/OSHA

CDFA

UC Davis 

National Center for Farmworker Health

CDC 

USDA

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