Concerns Over H5N1 Bird Flu Outbreak
The United States recently expressed worry after a person in Texas contracted influenza from dairy cattle. The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued warnings about the rapid spread of H5N1 bird flu to new species, including humans, with high mortality rates.
Key Points:
- H5N1 bird flu outbreak began in 2020
- Tens of millions of poultry have died
- Wild birds, land, and marine mammals infected
- Unexpectedly, cows and goats affected
According to WHO’s chief scientist Jeremy Farrar, the A (H5N1) strain has become a global zoonotic animal pandemic. The concern is that the virus could evolve to infect humans and spread from human to human.
While there have been no reports of human-to-human transmission, the mortality rate among infected individuals is alarmingly high. WHO recorded 463 deaths out of 889 human cases in 23 countries, with a mortality rate of 52%.
Bird Flu Case in the United States
In Texas, a person contracted influenza after exposure to dairy cattle, raising concerns. This was the second case linked to the herd infected by wild birds in Texas, Kansas, and other states.
Farrar emphasized the importance of monitoring human infections to prevent further spread of the virus. He stressed the need for vigilance as the virus seeks new hosts and potential adaptations.
“It’s a tragic thing to say, but if I get infected with H5N1 and I die, that’s the end of it. If I spread it to someone else, the cycle continues,” Farrar warned.
