{"id":2463,"date":"2025-03-21T17:30:19","date_gmt":"2025-03-21T17:30:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/lord-fairfax\/?page_id=2463"},"modified":"2026-04-03T17:46:42","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T17:46:42","slug":"bird-flu-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/lord-fairfax\/bird-flu-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Bird Flu"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)?<\/h3>\n
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Avian influenza (flu) or bird flu refers to the disease caused by\u00a0<\/span>infection<\/span>\u00a0with\u00a0<\/span>avian influenza type<\/span>\u00a0A viruses. These viruses spread\u00a0<\/span>naturally\u00a0<\/span>among wild water birds worldwide. They can also infect domestic poultry and other birds and animals.\u00a0<\/span>People rarely get bird flu<\/span>. W<\/span>hen they do,\u00a0<\/span>it's<\/span>\u00a0most often\u00a0<\/span>after<\/span>\u00a0unprotected contact (not wearing recommended personal protective equipment, PPE) with infected birds or other infected animals<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Current<\/span><\/b>\u00a0H5 Bird Flu Outbreak in Animals<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Since January 2022, an H5 bird flu virus has been detected in U.S. wild birds. This has led to several outbreaks in domestic and backyard poultry flocks. In March 2024, the first outbreaks of H5 bird flu in dairy cows were reported in the United States. Infections in other animal species have also been reported. Compared to the number of infected animals, a relatively small number of human infections have also occurred. Human infections usually happen after a person has had lengthy close contact with an infected animal. Most people with H5 bird flu infections in the U.S. have had mild illness. Currently, there is no evidence that H5 bird flu is spreading from one person to another.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The current risk of\u00a0<\/span>H5\u00a0<\/span>bird flu\u00a0<\/span>infection\u00a0<\/span>is low for the\u00a0<\/span>public.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>However, people\u00a0<\/span>with<\/span>\u00a0job-related or recreational\u00a0<\/span>exposure<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>birds or\u00a0<\/span><\/span>other H5 vir<\/span><\/span><\/span>us-infected\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>animals<\/span>\u00a0are at\u00a0<\/span>increased<\/span>\u00a0risk<\/span>\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0should take precautions to protect\u00a0<\/span><\/span>against bird flu.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

H5<\/span>\u00a0bird flu<\/span> has not been detected in people in Virginia.<\/span> <\/span>On April 4, 2025, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) released information about the first known case in a mammal in the Commonwealth. Preliminary testing indicates that a red fox from Loudoun County was infected with H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).<\/strong> The full DWR press release can be found here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

There are steps people can take to protect against getting sick with bird flu.<\/h3>\n
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