You won’t get sick from bird flu after eating or handling eggs or poultry products. There have been no cases of bird flu from consuming eggs and poultry, says Dr. Patricia Winokur, an infectious disease expert and executive dean of the University of Iowa Carver School of Medicine.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says animal flu viruses are distinct from human seasonal flu viruses and don’t easily transmit between humans. The WHO classifies the current strain of bird flu, known scientifically as H5N1, as “low risk” to humans.

Dr. Winokur says public health officials have kept a close watch on the H5N1 bird flu virus since it emerged globally about 15 years ago.

Scientists have already developed vaccines for the bird flu virus, and there are stockpiles of vaccines at the ready, if needed, Winokur says.