H5N1 Bird Flu Alert: What You Need to Know About Avian Influenza Risks and Prevention in 2024

Avian flu, or bird flu, is an infection caused by avian influenza A viruses that mostly live in birds; H5N1 is the subtype experts are watching most closely because it can cause severe disease in birds and occasionally infect humans after close contact with sick animals or their environments. In people, the overall risk is still considered low, but health agencies stress careful monitoring and basic precautions around birds and other animals.

Here’s your 3‑minute primer, Avian Flu 101: Your H5N1 Bird Flu Guide.

You can think of a virus as a tiny copy mach...