Prevent the spread of bird flu

Published on February 18, 2025

Recent discoveries of bird flu in a backyard flock and in a stray cat in San Mateo County highlight the importance of preventing the spread of H5N1.

The County’s Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures is advising backyard poultry owners to watch for signs of bird flu in their flock and to take appropriate measures such as washing hands before and after handling birds and disinfecting footwear to reduce the risk of spreading bird flu.

Pets infected with H5N1 may experience a loss of appetite, lethargy and fever, along with neurologic signs, including circling, tremors, seizures or blindness. The illness may quickly progress to:

• Severe depression
• Discharge from eyes or nose
• Other respiratory signs, such as rapid shallow breathing, difficulty breathing and sneezing or coughing

County Health says residents whose pets show signs of illness should contact their veterinarian.

To help reduce the spread of bird flu:

• If your poultry experiences any unusual/suspicious illness or death, contact your veterinarian or the California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) Sick Bird Hotline (866) 922-2473.
• Avoid touching or handling injured wildlife, including wild birds. For sick, injured or dead wild birds not on private property call the Peninsula Humane Society at (650) 340-7022 or report to the appropriate California state agencies. 
• For suspected bird flu in domestic cats or dogs, contact your veterinarian.
• If you suspect that you have contracted bird flu, contact your doctor.

There are no human cases of H5N1 related to these detections, but bird flu is usually fatal to cats and poultry.

Learn more about bird flu from San Mateo County Health.