The bird flu outbreak is currently making its way through the United States, resulting in a notable shortage of eggs and inflated prices in grocery stores and dining establishments. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the overall risk to public health remains low. Currently, there are at least 69 reported human cases of bird flu spanning 12 states, including one fatality linked to the H5N1 strain.

Lately, there has been a rise in avian influenza cases among various animals, with poultry, wild birds, and even dairy cattle affected, along with reports of pet cats contracting the virus in recent findings. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has reported that nearly 23 million birds were impacted by the virus just in January. Since February 2022, over 138 million birds have been documented as infected with the H5N1 strain.

In Ohio, health officials announced on Wednesday that a farm worker contracted bird flu after exposure to infected poultry—the state’s first confirmed human case. Fortunately, most human infections tend to be mild, and as of now, there is no evidence indicating transmission between humans.