How do humans catch bird flu?

There are several potential routes through which humans can catch bird flu. Only one of these has so far actually taken place. To date all bird flu deaths and infections have taken place when humans worked and often lived in direct contact with infected birds.

There are several other potential routes for the virus to enter the human body that have not taken place and may never take place.

Direct human to human spread - In order for this to happen the virus would have to mutate/evolve to such a degree that it could be spread like normal influenza. This is possible, as viruses are constantly mutating. There is a possibility that this could happen and this is why governments are currently taking the threat of bird flu very seriously.

Eating infected poultry - This is a potential, though very unlikely route for the virus to enter the human body. If the poultry is cooked correctly this very small risk is eliminated.

Other Animals to human transmission - There has recently been a case of bird flu infecting a pig in Indonesia. This is of concern as pigs can become infected with the human form of influenza as well. Scientists are concerned that this may be a route for the virus to spread through other animals to humans.