Is Chicken Safe to Eat During the Bird Flu Outbreak? What Experts Are Saying
The latest health threat that has us all a little unsettled is continuing: the avian influenza A virus, or bird flu, has killed over 300 million birds worldwide, according to data from the United Nations. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is carefully monitoring the spread of H5, the strain of the virus that’s currently circulating in the U.S. As of February 18, 2025, the CDC reports that 162,586,638 poultry birds have been affected. There have also been outbreaks across the country in dairy cows.
Let’s take a deeper dive on the latest surrounding the bird flu and safety with food.
How do chickens get bird flu?
A new study found that the virus could be wind borne — it’s believed that infectious aerosols may have been blown from a duck farm to a chicken farm in the Czech Republic, leading to a recent outbreak. Chickens in close quarters, such as in a poultry plant, can also become infected by contact with each others’ saliva, nasal secretions or feces. Currently, there’s no way to prevent transmission among chickens, but the U.S. has preliminarily approved a vaccine that could protect poultry flocks.
As of February 18, 2025, there’s been no person-to-person spread of H5 in the US, but there have been 68 cases in humans, including one death, the CDC says. Transmission of bird flu to humans has primarily happened among those who have close, unprotected contact with infected birds or dairy cows, and/or have contact with their bodily fluids, like farmworkers, veterinarians and people who own backyard flocks. “Bird flu infections in birds, poultry and cattle currently pose a low risk to the public,” says Robert H. Hopkins, Jr., M.D., medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) in Bethesda, Maryland.
Can you get the bird flu from eating chicken?
No doubt you’ve noticed that the price of eggs is still through the roof when you’re at the grocery store. Yes, this is because of bird flu concerns, but no, you can’t get bird flu from eating properly prepared eggs. There are a number of reasons for this: first, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspects all poultry and egg product plants. Also, eggs from a chicken sick with bird flu look malformed and would be removed from the food supply immediately. Not to mention the fact that high temperatures kill the virus, so cooking eggs thoroughly eliminates the risk, as does pasteurization.
What about an even bigger potential worry, though: Could you get bird flu from eating chicken itself, if the chicken was somehow infected with the current strain? “No human cases of illness have been caused by eating chicken,” says Shira Doron, M.D., M.P.H., chief Infection control officer of the Tufts Medicine health system and hospital epidemiologist at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. “That is very reassuring. The virus is not known to concentrate in the muscles, or the meat.”
According to the National Chicken Council, all poultry farm flocks are tested year-round for bird flu, and a number of biosecurity measures are carefully followed to cut down any risk of transmission. These measures include limiting visitors to a farm, not sharing farm equipment, cleanliness, disinfection and contamination control and training workers to engage in safe work practices. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) also inspects every chicken before and after they are processed for food, so that bird flu does not enter the food supply.
It’s also good to know that on a poultry farm, if bird flu is detected in a flock of chickens, farmers must kill that entire flock. Still, there are facts and precautions that can make you feel even better about enjoying those honey BBQ wings for dinner.
What are the symptoms of bird flu in people?
According to data from Mount Sinai, signs of infection include:
Cough
Breathing difficulty
Diarrhea
Headache
Fever
Achy muscles
Sore throat
Runny nose
Feeling sick in general
The American Academy of Ophthalmology also cites pink eye as a potential symptom of bird flu.
“If you had contact with potentially sick poultry or other animals, watch for symptoms and contact a trusted healthcare professional as soon as possible for guidance regarding testing and/or treatment,” says Dr. Hopkins. Keep in mind again, though, that human cases are currently rare. If you haven’t had any contact with birds that would be considered a risk factor, any of these symptoms most likely indicate you have another condition.
How do I safely prepare chicken to cut any risk of bird flu?
“It’s safe to eat chicken so long as you cook it thoroughly,” Dr. Hopkins says. “You should also wash your hands before, and after, preparing any food and before eating a meal.”
As with eggs, you need to use high heat to cook your chicken. “It’s never safe to eat undercooked chicken,” says Dr. Doron. “Cooking chicken to the recommended internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit is important.” You also need to be careful when prepping your lunch or dinner. “Avoid cutting boards made from porous material that’s difficult to disinfect, like wood,” Dr. Doron adds. “Refrain from placing cooked food on the same surface as raw chicken, and wash your hands well immediately after handling raw chicken. Also, disinfect any surfaces on which raw chicken was placed.”
What are some other smart steps I can take to avoid bird flu exposure?
“Don’t drink raw (unpasteurized) milk or eggs,” Dr. Hopkins advises. “Also, if you’re in contact with potentially sick birds or other animals, use personal protective equipment including masks and gloves, and wash your hands with soap and water afterward.”
Avoiding trips to farms or petting zoos with your kids is also a good idea right now, as is being careful to avoid any bird poop if you are near wild birds at a park.
The bottom line
Bird flu is not something you should worry about a lot right now – but it’s smart to use your common sense in these situations.
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