An avian flu outbreak is spreading to mammals – what’s the threat to people? 21 Feb 2023 Ben Knight The present risk to people is low, however we should always stay alert to the altering nature of the virus. The newest outbreak isn’t a trigger for alarm in people at this stage. Photograph: Shutterstock. Avian influenza – or chook flu, because it’s generally recognized – continues to run by means of chook populations, killing tens of millions of animals worldwide. Now, a very infectious and deadly pressure of the virus known as H5N1 seems to be spreading to mammals, with instances reported in wild otters, foxes, seals and in farmed minks.