Farmers, animal rescues and zookeepers in Rhode Island are taking precautions to protect animals, their workers and the general public from bird flu.

There’s “always a potential for this virus to become a pandemic, but there’s also the potential for any existing — or not yet existing — virus to become a pandemic,” said Dr. Shira Doron. The post Are we heading for a bird flu pandemic?

The first person in the U.S. just died from a strain of the virus in Louisiana, but there’s still some simple ways to stay safe.