Scientists are sounding alarms about a genetic mutation that was recently identified in four dairy cow herds, nearly one year after H5N1 bird flu was first reported in Texas dairy cattle. The change is one that researchers have dreaded finding because it is associated with increased mammal-to-mammal transmission and disease severity.

The dangers of your pet getting bird flu include raw pet food, environmental exposure and more. Three experts explain how to protect your cat or dog.

Where does our avian flu epidemic come from? Commercial, large-scale poultry farming and migrating birds squeezed into smaller and smaller areas as people destroy wetlands, experts say. And after birds pass it to each other,

In prior bird flu outbreaks, there’ve been several documented cases of feline-to-feline spread, but ingestion seems to be the primary route of exposure for pets in the current outbreak, says Coleman. If an outdoor cat catches an infected bird or rodent, that can make them sick.

Bird flu has been making a lot of headlines since cases of the disease have surged, sending egg prices soaring and people into a slight panic of catching the disease. We know the risk of bird flu for humans is low.