Most bird flu viruses found in wild ducks, other water birds, and even poultry are categorized as LPAI and do not cause obvious illness in infected birds.

Some of these LPAI viruses can mutate or change into HPAI viruses, which cause severe illness and death in birds.

This is particularly true for poultry species like chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese, and guinea fowl, and some species of raptors and owls.

Some types of bird flu, like HPAI H5N1 and H7N9, are known to cause illness in humans, while others have not been linked to human illness.

Wild birds can carry the bird flu (HPAI) virus without looking sick. They can still spread the virus to poultry birds (like chickens and turkeys) and raptors (like hawks and falcons).

Bird flu (HPAI) in poultry can cause sickness, death, and spread quickly, making it hard to control. The virus can spread to other birds from an infected bird's saliva, mucous, and feces (poop).

Bird flu viruses usually do not infect people, but rare cases have been reported in the U.S.

Farm workers, backyard bird owners, and wild bird handlers may be at a higher risk of getting bird flu.

People can get infected if body fluids (saliva, mucous, feces) from an animal with bird flu gets into a person's eyes, nose, or mouth, or are breathed in.

Eating or drinking raw milk products, including aged raw milk cheese, from cows with bird flu may also pose a risk for infection; however, pasteurized milk products are safe to eat or drink. To date, the FDA’s testing of pasteurized dairy products and aged raw milk cheese sold in stores has not detected infectious H5N1.  For more information, see "Investigation of Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus in Dairy Cattle."

Bird flu (HPAI) viruses can be spread by wild birds to domestic poultry and other bird and animal species.

Some infected wild water birds may not show signs of illness.

Signs and symptoms of bird flu (HPAI A(H5N1)) in poultry include:

• Sudden death without signs of illness
• Lack of energy or appetite
• Decreased number of eggs or misshapen eggs
• Swollen head, eyelids, wattles and hocks
• Purple colored wattles, comb and legs
• Respiratory issues, such as sneezing, coughing, runny nose and difficulty breathing
• Falling
• Diarrhea

Poultry

If you own or care for chickens or other types of poultry, learn more about how to protect them from bird flu by visiting Cornell Cooperative Extension, or call them at (518) 765-3500.

Poultry farmers should take extra steps to keep their birds from getting sick.

•  Whether you have a small backyard flock or a large commercial operation, it’s important to review and follow your biosecurity plans to protect your birds.
• You can find helpful biosecurity materials and checklists on the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA's) website: Defend the Flock .

Poultry owners should keep their birds away from wild ducks, geese, and their droppings. Outdoor access for poultry should be limited at this time, especially since there’s still a risk of bird flu in wild birds.

To report sick birds, unexplained high number of deaths, or sudden drop in egg production, call

• New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets at (518) 457-3502 or
• USDA at (866) 536-7593 or
• Cornell Cooperative Extension at (518) 765-3500.

To report sick or dead wild birds:

• Call the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation at (518) 478-2203 or
• Complete the NYSDEC Avian Influenza Reporting Form

Dead wildlife should be reported to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation at: Reporting Dead Wildlife.

For more information about the risk of HPAI to wildlife, visit Wildlife Health, Avian Influenza - Winter 2025

Bird flu, or avian influenza, mostly affects birds and rarely spreads to other animals or humans. However, in some places where HPAI avian influenza (bird flu) outbreaks have occurred, pets like dogs, cats, fox kits, and other mammals have gotten sick and died after eating infected birds.

If you are worried about your pets, do not let them roam outside where they could be exposed to or eat sick or dead animals, including wildlife.

Many diseases can make wild birds or other animals get sick and die. Some of these diseases could be spread to pets that come into contact with them. There is no vaccine to protect pets against avian influenza (HPAI A(H5N1)).

By keeping your pets away from potential dangers, you’re helping to keep them safe and healthy.

CONSUMER ALERT: Potential Bird Flu Risk in Raw Pet Food Products:
Raw pet food comes in several forms, including refrigerated, frozen, freeze-dried, or dehydrated options. To identify raw pet food, look for the word 'raw' on the packaging or check with the retailer or pet food company. Animals can contract HPAI (bird flu) by eating contaminated raw foods. As of March 18, 2025, two nationwide recalls of raw pet food were issued after reports of housecats in multiple states contracting HPAI from these products.

No human cases of HPAI related to raw pet food have been reported, and the CDC considers the general risk to the U.S. population low. However, individuals in contact with potentially infected animals or contaminated surfaces should take precautions. Symptoms of bird flu include redness or irritation in the eyes, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, fever, and trouble breathing. If symptoms appear after contact with recalled products, seek advice from your healthcare provider and local health department.

For more information about raw pet food:

• "NYS Dept of Agriculture and Markets: Raw Pet Food and HPAI" [.pdf]
• “FDA: Recalls & Withdrawals”

At this time, New York State considers the risk of bird flu (HPAI A(H5N1)) to humans to be low; however, people who have close, long, or unprotected contact with infected birds, other animals, or to contaminated environments are at greater risk of infection.

Bird flu (HPAI A (H5N1)) can cause severe illness in humans, so the public is advised to:

• Stay away from sick or dead animals. If you can’t avoid exposure, make sure to use respiratory (N95 mask) and eye protection (goggles or face shield) when dealing with sick or dead animals, such as wild birds, poultry, other domesticated birds, and other wild or domesticated animals. Also, be cautious around animal feces, litter, or materials contaminated by birds or other animals that might be infected with the bird flu (HPAI A (H5N1)) virus.
• Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when you are in direct or close contact (within about six feet) of sick or dead animals, including poultry, wild birds, backyard bird flocks, or other animals, animal feces (poop), litter, or materials that might be contaminated with bird flu (HPAI A(H5N1)) virus.

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus: Interim Recommendations for Prevention, Monitoring, and Public Health Investigations. (December 26, 2024)

Information for Workers Exposed to H5N1 Bird Flu. (January 6, 2025)

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Reporting Dead Wildlife

NYS Department of Health

Avian Influenza (Avian Flu, Bird Flu)

Questions and Answers about Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

U.S. Food & Drug Administration

FDA Outlines Ways to Reduce Risk of HPAI in Cats. (Updated January 17, 2025)