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Can you get bird flu from eating chicken or eggs? How it spreads
Thousands of new bird flu cases have emerged in recent months among New York flocks, including in parks and even backyard coops. The spread set off a fresh round of public health alerts among state officials in 2025.
So far, the risk of catching bird flu yourself remains low, but authorities urged caution if you find yourself around bird filth and feces, and asked the public to report flocks of sick or dead birds.
The growing warnings about the avian flu, also known as H5N1 or H5N9 flu, have led the public to question whether the infection can be spread to humans through eating eggs or chicken.
Here’s what we know now.
Are eggs safe to eat right now amid the bird flu outbreak?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture noted that bird flu “cannot be transmitted through safely handled and properly cooked eggs.”
To safely handle eggs means to store them in a refrigerator at 40°F or colder as soon as you come home from the grocery store to prevent the growth of bacteria.
You also want to avoid using eggs that are cracked or dirty. And remember to wash your hands, utensils and surfaces with soap and water after they come into contact with raw eggs.
The FDA also recommends keeping raw poultry and eggs separate from other foods to prevent cross-contamination.
“Properly cooked eggs” refers to eggs that are cooked to an internal temperature of 165˚F, the CDC says, which is likely to kill disease-causing germs. In other words, over-easy and sunny side up eggs with runny yolk are not considered “properly cooked.”
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Can you get bird flu from eating chicken or beef?
While there is no evidence that anyone in the United States has gotten infected with avian influenza viruses after eating properly handled and cooked poultry products, uncooked poultry, and other poultry products (like blood) could have been the source of a small number of avian influenza A virus infections in people in Southeast Asia, CDC says.
Cooking poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165˚F kills bacteria and viruses, including avian influenza viruses, CDC says.
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Cooking beef to the appropriate internal temperature also kills bacteria and viruses, including avian influenza viruses. Cook all beef products thoroughly before eating. Ground beef should reach a safe internal temperature of 160°F and whole cuts of beef should reach 145°F then rest for 3 minutes, CDC says.
USA Today contributed to this report.
Bird flu, also known as avian influenza, is a viral infection that primarily affects birds. However, can you get bird flu from eating chicken or eggs? The short answer is no.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), bird flu is mainly spread through contact with infected birds or their droppings. The virus can be found in the respiratory secretions and feces of infected birds, and can be transmitted through direct contact with these materials. In rare cases, bird flu can also be transmitted through contaminated surfaces or objects.
When it comes to eating chicken or eggs, the CDC states that properly cooked poultry and eggs are safe to eat. Cooking poultry to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) kills the bird flu virus and reduces the risk of infection. Additionally, the virus is not typically found in the meat or eggs of infected birds, so the risk of contracting bird flu from consuming these products is extremely low.
In conclusion, the chances of getting bird flu from eating chicken or eggs are minimal as long as proper food safety measures are followed. However, it is still important to practice good hygiene when handling raw poultry and eggs to reduce the risk of foodborne illness. Stay informed and stay safe!
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