Village of Park Forest officials are urging residents to exercise caution following the reporting of several bird flu cases in the Chicagoland area.  

The spread of the virus coincides with a concerning new mutation that scientists believe may allow the virus to infect humans more easily than before. This mutation has raised alarms in the medical community as bird flu has already caused “significant” mortality, leading to the deaths of millions of wild and domestic birds globally over the past two years. 

In neighboring Matteson, the outbreak resulted in the loss of thousands of birds at Kakadoodle Farm, highlighting the virus's impact on local avian populations.

Margaret Lewis, the Assistant Director of Recreation, Parks, and Community Health in Park Forest, emphasized that while avian influenza primarily affects birds, humans and their pets can also be at risk.  

“Although bird flu, also known as avian influenza, usually does not infect people, there have been rare but documented cases of human infections caused by these viruses,” Lewis noted. “The severity of illness in humans can vary widely, ranging from asymptomatic cases or mild respiratory symptoms to severe disease that can ultimately result in death.”

In light of this situation, Lewis strongly encourages residents to take preventive measures to protect themselves and their pets. These precautions include avoiding direct contact with sick or dead birds and other wildlife, seeking medical attention and testing if experiencing flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, and refraining from consuming or offering raw milk and meat to pets, which could pose health risks. 

Lewis said taking these steps is essential to help mitigate the spread of bird flu and safeguard community health.