The dangers of approaching sick or dead animals amid a bird flu outbreak have been reinforced after confirmation of the nation’s first mass mortality event. She said H5 was spread in much the same way as human flu transmission - through close contact with airborne droplets and the bodily fluids of infected birds. “The most common way a human is going to get this is from infected poultry, so the highest risk in that regard is poultry workers.” Human deaths were extremely rare, with the virus producing symptoms similar to flu, she said. “If you have a dog that has been in close contact with a sick bird, I would quarantine your dog,” she said.