What you should know about the avian flu
I remember growing up during the avian flu scare. Paranoid of the avian influenza LPAI H7N9 resurfacing around Asia in 2013, my mother stopped buying poultry altogether. She stopped hanging clothes out to dry, fearing that infected birds may excrete on them. She forbade me from feeding pigeons at the park, a family activity we used to enjoy.
Now, we’re hearing reports of a new avian flu spreading among wild birds worldwide. Poultry and dairy cows have been infected, and there are even human cases reported in North America. What should we make of this? Can we still eat chicken? And most importantly, are we heading back to lockdowns and quarantines? Now, as a student of immunology, I hope to steer clear of paranoia and refer to opinions of public health experts and infectious disease specialists.
According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the A(H5N1) avian flu virus variants currently circulating the world differ genetically from previous strains of the virus. These new viruses belong to clade 2.3.4.4b, with a diverse genetic makeup and phenotypical presentation. Currently, there is no causational evidence to prove that these viruses originate from a laboratory leak. All that is known is that these viruses possess a novel wild-bird-adapted N1 gene, and started explosively spreading in wild birds and domestic poultries across Asia, Europe, and Africa in 2021. During the westward spread of the viruses, they infected many new species and gained new reassortments of ribonucleoprotein genes along the way. The new genetic combinations enabled the viruses to acquire new abilities. Many strains of these viruses cause severe disease in mammals, with some targeting the central nervous system.
According to the Government of Canada, around 14.5 million birds in Canada are estimated to be impacted by the current avian flu as of February 21, 2025, with around 1.1 million birds impacted in Ontario. Fortunately, for humans, the avian flu is primarily a bird disease. There are two major reasons: first, the unique hemagglutinin proteins of avian flu prefer to bind to avian receptors rather than human receptors, lowering the chances of transmission between birds and humans. Second, the avian flu hemagglutinin proteins bind to the GI and lower respiratory tract and not usually to the upper respiratory tract of humans, which lowers the chances of transmission between humans. Currently, there have been 70 human cases of avian flu in the US, with one reported death, and one case in Canada. The Government of Canada has stated that the risk of A(H5N1) to humans remains low, with no current evidence of human-to-human transmission. Additionally, the avian flu is not considered a food safety concern, as there is no evidence reporting viral transmission from the consumption of cooked poultry or eggs.
The Government of Canada is taking measures to mitigate the potential effect of the current avian flu. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has restricted import of bird by-products from regions reporting outbreaks. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) announced plans to purchase avian flu vaccines and provide them “based on an equitable and risk-based approach.” Finally, the Government of Canada claims that it is actively monitoring the avian flu while working closely with public health and animal health agencies, industry stakeholders, and international partners.
While we shouldn’t be overly worried about A(H5N1), it’s important to maintain proper hygiene. During the COVID-19 pandemic, influenza cases dropped dramatically due to increased handwashing, mask-wearing, social distancing, and other good hygiene habits. No matter the circumstances, personal hygiene is always essential. So, mask up, wash your hands, and bring your hand sanitizer to class. When you protect yourself, you’re also protecting your elders, pregnant family members, immunocompromised friends, and all the people you cherish.
