For bird flu to become the next pandemic, it would have to spread person to person. What we know about bird flu cases in peopleThe risk to humans remains low, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When it’s identified early and successfully treated, most bird flu cases are mild in humans. Do not let your pets carry, lick, eat, or play with wild birds,” Dr. Nolting says. Do not let your pets carry, lick, eat, or play with wild birds,” Dr. Nolting says.