Dear Dr. John,

I have become acutely aware of the bird flu due to the recent shortages of eggs and the spike in pricing. How concerned should I be about this virus and its potential effects? I have read that people can also be affected and cannot help but wonder if my dogs are going to be at risk. How would they get it and what signs would I watch for? Would the same hold true for me and my family?  I.K.

Dear I.K.,

The virus we are currently concerned with is H5N1 which has been around since 2022. People, dogs, cats, rats can be infected but poultry and dairy cows are most commonly infected by inhaling viral droplets, entering through the eyes and nose, or by ingestion of infected milk or other bodily fluids. One common source of spread is by the migration of wild birds.

Dogs can be infected by eating raw diets or picking up a bird carcass outdoors so avoid these possibilities. Properly pasteurized milk and cooked eggs are not sources of infection. Infected poultry succumb quickly and die whereas mammals typically show non-specific signs of viral illness such as cough, fever, aches, and vomiting and diarrhea. Most cases are mild but can be severe, even fatal, and there is news of one person dying in Louisiana recently and one dog dying in Canada in 2023.

Sources indicate 968 dairy herds have been affected in 16 states and 68 veterinarians that work with cows or poultry have been infected. Treatment is typically done with supportive care and antivirals. Vaccine research is ongoing. There is no reason for mass hysteria but good reason for concern. I just returned from Japan where I spoke on this as part of a One Health forum. The public needs to understand and embrace this important concept: animal health, human health, and environmental health are all inextricably intertwined and co-dependent for sustainable life on the planet.

Zoonotic disease has always existed, and we are just beginning to understand the ramifications and extent of this. Stay tuned.

Dr. John de Jong is President of the World Veterinary Association. He owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic and can be reached at 781-899-9994.