Human Cases of Bird Flu: An Enormous Concern, Says WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed alarm at the increasing spread of H5N1 bird flu to new species, including humans, who face an “extraordinarily high” mortality rate. The chief scientist of the U.N. health agency, Jeremy Farrar, stated that this remains a significant concern.
The current bird flu outbreak, which began in 2020, has resulted in the deaths of tens of millions of poultry, with wild birds, land mammals, and marine mammals also being infected. Last month, cows and goats were added to the list of affected species, which surprised experts as they were not thought to be susceptible to this type of influenza. Farrar described the A(H5N1) strain as a “global zoonotic animal pandemic.”
The Threat of Human Infection
The main concern is that the virus, which initially infects ducks and chickens and then increasingly mammals, may evolve and develop the ability to infect humans. Furthermore, there is a critical concern regarding the virus’s ability to spread from human to human. So far, there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the influenza A(H5N1) virus. However, in cases where humans have been infected through contact with animals, the mortality rate is extraordinarily high.
From the beginning of 2023 to April 1 of this year, the WHO recorded 463 deaths out of 889 human cases across 23 countries, resulting in a case fatality rate of 52 percent. In a recent development, U.S. authorities reported a person in Texas recovering from bird flu after being exposed to dairy cattle. This is only the second case of a human testing positive for bird flu in the country and appears to be the first human infection with the influenza A(H5N1) virus strain through contact with an infected mammal.
Jeremy Farrar emphasized the need for increased monitoring to understand the number of human infections occurring. This is crucial as it is where the virus will adapt. He stated, “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 go around the community and spread it to somebody else, then you start the cycle.”
Efforts Towards Prevention and Preparedness
Efforts are currently underway to develop vaccines and therapeutics for H5N1. It is also essential to ensure that regional and national health authorities have the capacity to diagnose the virus. This is crucial to enable an immediate response in the event of human-to-human transmission of H5N1. Farrar stressed the need for equitable access to vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics.
In conclusion, the increasing spread of H5N1 bird flu to new species, including humans, is a cause for significant concern. The mortality rate for human cases remains extraordinarily high, and there is a constant threat of the virus evolving to achieve human-to-human transmission. Efforts are being made to develop preventive measures and enhance preparedness to respond to the potential spread of the virus. Monitoring and equitable access to vaccines and diagnostics are crucial in mitigating the impact of bird flu on human health.
