H5N1 Information for Livestock and Poultry Farm Owners

In Illinois, avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in poultry, wild birds, an opossum, a domestic cat, and zoo animals. In other states, avian influenza H5N1 has been found in these species as well as dairy cattle, other wild mammals, and human patients. Most avian influenza H5N1 detections in domestic animals and people in the United States have occurred in farm settings. Those working with livestock and poultry need to be aware of the risk of avian influenza H5N1 in the animals they work with and take steps to reduce these risks to their fellow staff, families, communities, and the animals they work with.

During this time of heightened avian influenza H5N1 transmission, farm workers need to increase their biosecurity and worker safety practices to address the threat of avian influenza H5N1. The U.S. Department of Agriculture website has the most updated information on the impact of avian influenza H5N1 on poultry and dairy farmers. Of the 70 cases of human avian influenza H5N1 detected as of May 15, 2025 in the United States, 41 have occurred after dairy farm exposures, 24 have occurred following poultry farm exposures, two have occurred following exposure to backyard poultry, and three have unknown exposures. Livestock farm work represents the biggest risk for humans to contract avian influenza H5N1 in the United States.

• Wild birds, especially waterfowl and birds of prey
• Poultry or dairy animals
• Animals owned by people working in the dairy, poultry, or wildlife management industries
• Animals owned by waterfowl hunters
• Pets fed homemade or commercial raw food diets
• Outdoor felines that may contract the virus through hunting birds, especially those living on or around farms, or near areas with bird die-offs

• Sudden death (poultry)
• Drop in milk production/quality (dairy animals)
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Decreased appetite
• Reddened or inflamed eyes
• Discharge from the eyes and nose
• Difficulty breathing
• Neurologic symptoms, like tremors, seizures, incoordination, or blindness

Note that, similar to signs of influenza disease in humans, many of these symptoms are relatively non-specific to avian influenza H5N1. Seek assistance from a veterinarian if you think your animals may have avian influenza H5N1.

• Develop a workplace health and safety plan and share it with your workers.
• Practice enhanced biosecurity to keep disease off the farm and to limit the potential spread of diseases from livestock to people. Time, energy, and money spent on improving biosecurity are likely to improve farm outcomes and yields.

• Limit resources (water, grain stores, rodents) that may attract wild birds to the farm. Farms containing ponds or near bodies of water should be especially careful about groups of wild birds staying on the farm.

Report sick or dead wild birds (5 or more) to your local IDNR District Wildlife Biologist or USDA Wildlife Services at 1-866-487-3297.

• Understand where, when, and how avian influenza H5N1 may most likely spread to workers during farming operations. Sick animals can pass the influenza virus to people in their saliva, feces, respiratory secretions, and other body fluids, especially milk. A person can contract avian influenza H5N1 when they breathe in the virus or touch something that has the virus on it and then touch their mouth, eyes, or nose. In a farm setting, this can happen in any number of ways:
  • If a worker touches something contaminated with a virus (including the animals, their byproducts, feed, bedding, manure, and housing stalls, as well as dairy, egg handling, or other farm equipment) and touches their eyes, nose, or mouth before washing their hands.
  • If a liquid containing live virus splashes into a worker's eyes, nose, or mouth. (For example, a splash of raw milk during milking.)
  • If a worker eats, drinks, or inhales droplets contaminated with live virus. (Meal breaks should be taken away from the animal locations and only after employees wash and disinfect their hands.)
• Take steps to limit farm workers’ exposure to possibly sick animals or their bedding/debris/manure. Farm workers should be:
  • Provided and wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for the relative workplace exposure level when working with animals known or suspected to have avian influenza H5N1.
  • Trained in how to use PPE properly.
  • Trained on the symptoms of avian influenza H5N1 in people.
  • Not a person at higher risk of becoming seriously ill with avian influenza H5N1. Individuals at higher risk are those who are 65 years of age or older and those with underlying chronic medical conditions.
• Maintain a close relationship with your farm veterinarian and follow their guidance for sick animal isolation and testing. If livestock on the farm show signs consistent with avian influenza H5N1, contact your veterinarian immediately, and report your concerns to the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Farm veterinarians can arrange avian influenza H5N1 testing at the University of Illinois Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Urbana.

Report sick or dead domestic/owned poultry to the Illinois Department of Agriculture at 217-782-4944 or USDA APHIS Veterinary Services at 1-866-536-7593.

• Illinois farms should record the name and contact information of anyone (employees, family, community members) who works with their livestock, or their livestock waste, bedding, or byproducts, in case of animal infection on the farm. If avian influenza H5N1 is identified on the farm, the local health department will confidentially use this information to contact the exposed individuals for 10 days of symptom monitoring. Contact data requested by local health departments will be confidentially stored and not shared with anyone outside of the state and local (county) health departments.
• Farms should post signage educating employees about the symptoms of avian influenza H5N1 in people so they can self-monitor and communicate any concerns immediately to their local health department.
• Advise employees to use good hand hygiene practices and reduce the risk of disease transmission between animals and people by washing their hands, especially:
  • After leaving areas where farm animals live (such as coops, barns, and stalls).
  • Before preparing or consuming food or drinks.
  • Before using tobacco products or vaping.
  • After removing soiled clothes, shoes, or personal protective equipment.
• Ensure employees generally monitor their health as they work with the animals. If animals on the farm are suspected to be sick from avian influenza H5N1, employees should be encouraged to closely monitor their health until it is understood whether the animals may have contracted the disease. Local health departments are available to field calls about employee health and can arrange expedited testing if an employee is symptomatic.

The reported signs and symptoms of avian influenza H5N1 virus infections in humans have ranged from no symptoms to mild or severe. Symptoms may include:

• Eye redness (conjunctivitis)
• Mild flu-like upper respiratory symptoms
• Pneumonia requiring hospitalization
• Fever (temperature of 100ºF [37.8ºC] or greater) or feeling feverish, although fever may not always be present
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

• Stay at home and away from others as much as possible until they know whether they have avian influenza H5N1.
• Call to speak to a medical provider about their symptoms and inform their work supervisor that they have symptoms consistent with avian influenza H5N1.
• Contact their local health department to discuss their symptoms and the possible need for testing.
• Alert any health care providers that they may see that they work in a farm setting and may have been exposed to avian influenza H5N1. Ideally, sick agricultural workers would contact their local health department before seeking medical care so that the local health department may contact their care providers first and ensure they have everything they need to provide adequate and safe care and testing.
• The local health department will help patients determine the best next steps and provide them with information if they test positive for avian influenza H5N1
• If avian influenza H5N1 is contracted, employees should stay home and away from others until:
  • 5 to 7 days have passed from the onset of symptoms
    AND
  • any eye infection, including redness (excluding subconjunctival hemorrhage) or drainage, is resolved
    AND
  • any fever (temperature of 100°F/37.8°C or higher) has been gone for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication
    AND
  • other symptoms are mild and improving
• Medical providers may prescribe anti-viral medications to treat avian influenza in the patient and their close contacts. It is important to follow the directions when taking the medication.

The CDC recommends farm workers wear PPE when working with infectious or potentially infectious animals or materials. PPE must be worn on farms with confirmed or suspected avian influenza H5N1 infections. Wearing PPE can also improve general farm operations. For instance, wearing disposable gloves during milking improves herd milk quality by helping to prevent the transfer of infection from a cow with mastitis to a healthy cow.

• N95 particulate respirator
• Unvented safety goggles or a face shield
• Gloves
• Head/hair cover
• Rubber boots
• Fluid-resistant coveralls +/- waterproof apron (depending on task)

• Avoid touching above your chest, especially your eyes, mouth, or nose, after touching any contaminated material.
• Do not eat, drink, smoke, vape, chew gum, dip tobacco, or use the bathroom. Entirely remove PPE and shower/wash as best as possible before pursuing these activities.
• If possible, shower at the end of the work shift and put on clean, uncontaminated clothing. If there are no shower facilities on-site, clean up as much as possible, put-on uncontaminated clothing, and leave straight from work to a shower. Leave all contaminated clothing and equipment at work.
• Follow instructions for putting on/taking/off PPE. Use a designated clean area for putting on PPE and a separate one for taking it off.

“The best defense is a good offense”

Once avian influenza H5N1 is on a farm, it can spread quickly and lead to substantial economic setbacks. Farms will benefit from increased farm biosecurity, worker hygiene practices, and herd disease surveillance.

The agricultural industry faces unique pressures. Avian influenza H5N1 has placed strain and worry on U.S. agricultural industries and many rural families. Emotional health can, unfortunately, be the last thing to be addressed during tough times. The Illinois Department of Agriculture, the SIU School of Medicine Center for Rural Health and Social Service Development (CRHSSD), and the University of Illinois Extension are collaborating to build a network of support and resources for Illinois farm families.

Everyone needs someone to talk to

Producers who need assistance can receive free, confidential support by calling or texting 1-833-FARM-SOS (833-327-6767) or emailing FarmFamilyResourceHelpline@mhsil.com.

• H5N1 Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
• Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) | H5N1 Avian Influenza (Avian Flu)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) | Information for Workers Exposed to H5N1 Bird Flu
• CDC | How H5 Bird Flu Could Spread on a Dairy Farm
• CDC | Public Health Resources for Veterinarians and Veterinary Staff Handling Animals with H5N1 on Dairy Farms
• CDC | Reducing Exposure for Workers to Avian Influenza A Viruses
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) | Avian Influenza
• American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) | Avian Influenza