Link Between Bird Flu and Dairy Workers. The spread of avian influenza, or "bird flu," has become a greater worry in recent years. Although the impact on the poultry business and possible human transmission have received a lot of attention, a lesser-known issue has surfaced: the possibility of dairy workers contracting bird flu without realising it. This article explores the growing worries expressed by specialists about the possibility that people employed in the dairy industry may have overlooked cases of avian flu.