People can get infected if they don’t wash their hands after touching an animal or its poop, food, toys, habitats (including coops, pens, and cages), or equipment used around these animals. How it spreads: Campylobacter most often spread to animals and people through the feces (poop) of infected animals, contaminated food, or the environment. Some people can have serious flu complications, including inflammation of the heart (myocarditis), brain (encephalitis), or muscle (myositis, rhabdomyolysis) tissues, and multi-organ failure (for example, respiratory and kidney failure).Ĭampylobacter are bacteria that can make people and animals sick with a disease called campylobacteriosis. They may also have red eyes, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. Symptoms in people: People infected with avian flu viruses can have symptoms similar to the human seasonal flu, such as fever, fatigue, lack of appetite, and coughing. Signs that poultry may be infected range from decreased egg production to extremely high death rates. Signs in poultry: Birds can be infected with flu viruses without showing symptoms. People who work closely with large numbers of birds, such as producers, are more likely to get bird flu if their animals are infected. Anyone can get the flu, but children younger than 5 years old, pregnant people, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are at high risk for serious flu complications. Who is at risk: It is rare for avian flu to spread to people. Less often, people can get infected by touching an infected animal and then touching their own eyes, nose, or mouth. People also can get infected through contact with virus-contaminated surfaces, poultry coops, pig pens, and supplies.

People can get infected through contact with saliva, nasal secretions, and droppings (poop) from infected animals.

How it spreads: Flu viruses are highly contagious. Not all influenza viruses found in birds are known to cause human infections. When influenza viruses that normally circulate in animals cause an infection in people, this is called a “novel” virus infection. Some avian influenza viruses that primarily circulate in animals have infected people on rare occasion. Avian influenza, or bird flu, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses.

Flock of chickens