Parents Unsure About Bird Flu Facts: Mott Poll Findings

Author: Ian C. Langtree - View Credentials
Published: 10 Mar 2025 - Updated: 1 Nov 2026
Publication Type: Reports & Proceedings

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This report examines how U.S. parents understand and respond to H5N1 bird flu, drawing on a nationally representative survey of 2,021 parents conducted in February 2025 for the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health, with updates from the CDC, USDA and World Health Organization - most parents did not know whether bird flu had reached their state and fewer than half felt able to find accurate, current information, while confidence in the government's ability to stop spread to humans was low, which matters because people who rely mainly on news and social media can miss practical guidance, and the gap is especially relevant for older adults, people with disabilities and families caring for someone with a chronic health condition.

At a Glance

• 1 - Eye redness and irritation have been the main symptom in most U.S. human cases.
• 2 - Pasteurization kills bird flu viruses, so pasteurized milk and dairy are the safer choice.
• 3 - Only 11% of parents got bird flu information from a healthcare provider, compared with 78% from news reports.
• 4 - Some parents ate fewer eggs and less chicken, but there is no evidence bird flu spreads through fully cooked food. Poultry and eggs should reach 165 degrees F.

Topic Definition

H5N1 Bird Flu

H5N1 bird flu is a highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus that spreads mainly among wild birds and can pass to poultry, dairy cows and other mammals. People are rarely infected, usually after close, unprotected contact with sick or dead animals or contaminated surfaces, and most recent U.S. cases have caused mild illness such as eye redness, although severe and fatal infections have occurred. The virus has not been shown to spread from person to person in the United States, and the risk to the general public is considered low, but health agencies monitor it closely because changes in the virus could make it spread more easily between people.

Overview

A national poll of U.S. parents found that 2 in 5 wish the government were doing more to prevent a bird flu outbreak, while about 1 in 3 have taken steps to protect their family against the virus [Clark et al., 2025].

With high egg prices and ongoing bird flu headlines, many parents remain unsure about the risks and the facts. According to the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health, 68% of parents did not know whether bird flu cases had been found in their state, 45% had heard little or nothing about the virus, and only 43% felt able to find accurate and current information about it [Clark et al., 2025].

"Many parents may hear about bird flu in the news but don't feel well-informed or know if they should be taking action to protect their families," said Mott Poll Co-Director Sarah Clark, M.P.H. "This report highlights the challenge for parents to keep track of an emerging health situation and understand its potential threat to their child's health."

About the Mott Poll on Bird Flu

The poll was carried out in February 2025 by Ipsos Public Affairs using its KnowledgePanel, a nationally representative online household survey. It included 2,021 parents with at least one child aged 1 to 18, and results were weighted to reflect the U.S. population. The margin of error ranged from 1 to 3 percentage points. The findings were published in March 2025 as part of the poll's regular report series [Clark et al., 2025].

What Is H5N1 Bird Flu?

Bird flu, or H5N1, is a type of influenza A virus that spreads widely among wild birds around the world. Wild birds pass the infection to poultry and other animals, including mammals that eat infected birds. In the U.S., the current outbreak in poultry was first confirmed in a commercial flock on February 8, 2022 [U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, n.d.], and a multistate outbreak in dairy cows was first reported on March 25, 2024 [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2025a]. You can follow ongoing coverage in our avian influenza bird flu section.

The strain circulating in the U.S., clade 2.3.4.4b, is described in the Mott report as highly lethal. Because the virus spreads easily among animals, the standard practice is to cull an entire flock or herd once infection is found. Millions of chickens have been culled, which has contributed to higher egg prices [Clark et al., 2025].

Human Cases and Current Risk

Human infections are rare and have mostly occurred in people with close, unprotected contact with infected animals, such as dairy and poultry workers. As of October 2026, the CDC reported 72 human cases of H5 bird flu in the U.S. since 2024 and continued to describe the current public health risk as low. No person-to-person spread has been identified in the U.S. [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2026].

Most U.S. cases have been mild, with eye redness and irritation as the main symptom. Other symptoms can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headache and fatigue, while serious illness can involve trouble breathing, high fever and seizures. Older age, delayed care and underlying medical conditions can affect how sick a person becomes [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.-a]. The first U.S. death linked to H5N1 was reported in January 2025 in Louisiana. The patient was over 65, had underlying medical conditions, and had been exposed to a backyard flock and wild birds [Louisiana Department of Health, 2025; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2025b].

H5N1 is not new. Since it re-emerged in people in 2003, the World Health Organization has received reports of 1,002 human cases from 25 countries through August 2026, 479 of them fatal [World Health Organization, 2026]. These earlier outbreaks are the main reason health officials watch closely for any sign that the virus is adapting to spread between people.

Steps Parents Are Taking to Protect Their Families

One in five parents said the media is making too big a deal about bird flu, while 41% wished the government were doing more to prevent an outbreak [Clark et al., 2025].

About 34% of parents reported taking at least one action to protect their family, though not all of these steps are evidence-based [Clark et al., 2025]:

• Being more careful about general hygiene - 22%
• Taking more care handling eggs, chicken and beef - 13%
• Avoiding contact with birds and other wild animals - 12%
• Avoiding raw milk - 10%
• Eating fewer eggs, chicken and beef - 7%

"Some parents indicated they have cut back on eating poultry products like eggs and chicken," Clark said. "However, as long as eggs and meat are fully cooked, there's no evidence that bird flu is spread through these products."

Among the 68% of parents who had not taken preventive action, the main reasons were already having good hygiene practices (31%), not knowing which actions are recommended (29%) and not feeling at risk (14%) [Clark et al., 2025].

Parent Concerns and Confidence in the Government Response

Nearly half of parents (47%) said they were very concerned about the rising cost of eggs and meat. Smaller shares were very concerned about bird flu spreading from human to human (31%), from animals to humans (28%) or through food products (16%) [Clark et al., 2025].

Confidence in the state and federal response was limited. Only 18% of parents were very confident in the government's ability to remove infected animals or animal products from the food supply, and 22% were very confident it could tell people which products should be recalled or thrown away. Confidence was lowest for preventing spread to humans, where just 12% were very confident and 34% were not confident at all [Clark et al., 2025]. Product warnings are posted in our recalls, warnings and advisories section.

"There appears to be a gap in public confidence when it comes to the national response to bird flu," Clark said. "Misinformation and uncertainty can fuel anxiety, so it's critical that health officials communicate transparently about containment efforts and food safety to reassure families."

Where Parents Get Bird Flu Information

Keeping up with changing information can be hard. Most parents relied on news reports (78%), followed by social media (31%) and internet searches (19%). Far fewer got their information from family or friends (15%), a government agency (11%) or a healthcare provider (11%) [Clark et al., 2025]. Health agencies such as the CDC update their bird flu pages regularly, and a family doctor or pediatrician can answer questions about a child's specific risk.

Practical Hygiene and Food Safety Tips for Families

While the risk is greatest for people who work with farm animals and their families, Clark says the situation is a good opportunity for parents to reinforce healthy habits with their children. Children should be taught to avoid dead animals and to stay away from animal droppings, which can be hard to spot in yards or sandboxes.

"Parents should teach their child to keep their hands away from their face and remind them to wash their hands with soap and water after touching birds and other animals at a petting zoo or a neighbor's backyard chicken coop," Clark said. More guidance on keeping children well can be found in our pediatric health section.

Safe food handling matters as well. The CDC recommends cooking poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, ground beef to 160 degrees F, and whole cuts of beef to 145 degrees F with a 3-minute rest. Pasteurization kills avian influenza viruses, so families should choose pasteurized milk and dairy products rather than raw milk [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.-b].

People who are more likely to become seriously ill from flu, including older adults and those with chronic health conditions or disabilities, may want extra care around backyard flocks, wild birds and raw animal products. Anyone who develops symptoms after contact with sick or dead animals should contact a healthcare provider promptly, since antiviral treatment works best when started early [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.-a].

The authors also note that parents should be mindful of their children's anxiety when talking about bird flu, and keep conversations calm and focused on simple steps the family can take [Clark et al., 2025].

Frequently Asked Questions

Can pets catch bird flu?

Yes. Pets that eat or come into contact with infected wild birds can become infected. Keeping pets away from wild birds and dead animals lowers the risk.

Is there a bird flu vaccine for the public?

No. There is no commercially available bird flu vaccine for the general public, and health agencies do not currently recommend vaccination. Candidate vaccine viruses have been developed that could be used to make a vaccine if needed.

Does the seasonal flu shot protect against bird flu?

No. Seasonal flu vaccines do not protect against H5N1 or other bird flu viruses, although they still protect against the seasonal flu strains that circulate each year.

Is bird flu treatable in people?

Yes. Antiviral medicines such as oseltamivir are used to treat bird flu and work best when started as soon as possible, ideally within 48 hours of symptoms starting.

What should I do if my child touches a dead bird?

Wash the child's hands well with soap and water and remind them not to touch their face. Watch for eye redness, fever or cough over the following days and call a healthcare provider if symptoms appear.

Should I report sick or dead wild birds?

Yes. Do not touch them. Report unusual bird deaths to your state wildlife or agriculture agency so experts can test the birds and track the virus.

Are backyard chickens safe to keep during a bird flu outbreak?

They can be, with care. Keep flocks away from wild birds, wear gloves when cleaning coops, wash hands afterward, and contact a veterinarian or state animal health official if birds become sick or die suddenly.

How can I talk to my child about bird flu without causing worry?

Keep the conversation calm and simple. Explain that the risk to most people is low and focus on easy habits the family can practice, such as washing hands, avoiding dead animals and eating well-cooked food.

References

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025a). Current situation: Bird flu in dairy cows.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025b). First H5 bird flu death reported in United States.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2026). A(H5) bird flu: Current situation.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.-a). About bird flu.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.-b). Food safety and bird flu.
• Clark, S. J., Schultz, S. L., Gebremariam, A., Beel, L., and Woolford, S. J. (2025). Parents unsure about bird flu. C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health, 47(1). University of Michigan Health.
• Louisiana Department of Health. (2025). LDH reports first U.S. H5N1-related human death.
• U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. (n.d.). Confirmations of highly pathogenic avian influenza in commercial and backyard flocks.
• World Health Organization. (2026). Avian influenza weekly update number 1058. WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific.

Attribution/Source(s)

This article was written by Ian C. Langtree for Disabled World (DW). It is based on findings from the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health, first released by Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan on 10 Mar 2025, and has been updated with current data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Louisiana Department of Health and the World Health Organization. Quotes from Mott Poll Co-Director Sarah Clark, M.P.H., are from the original Michigan Medicine release.

More on this topic: Avian Influenza Bird Flu Publications - Influenza and Colds Publications - Pediatric Health Publications

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: The Mott findings point to a gap between how much bird flu is in the news and how well families feel they understand it - nearly 3 in 10 parents who took no action said they simply did not know what was recommended,; the first U.S. death, in an older adult with underlying conditions who kept a backyard flock, is a reminder that risk is not shared equally, so seniors, people with disabilities and their caregivers stand to gain the most from plain, accessible guidance on hand washing, safe cooking and avoiding sick or dead animals, delivered through the channels people already use.

Author Credentials: Ian C. Langtree is a writer, editor, and the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, which he established in 2004 as one of the longest-running independent resources for disability news and information. Over more than two decades, he has written and edited thousands of articles on disability rights, health, accessibility, and assistive technology. Drawing on a global perspective shaped by extensive travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed advocate of the Social Model of Disability, the framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that focuses on removing societal barriers rather than on individual impairments. His writing is grounded in that framework and in a lasting commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.

Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally issued as a press release by Disabled World and published on 10 Mar 2025. Last updated on 1 Nov 2026. This content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.