In an update on the mutating virus – known as H5N1 – Dr. Madhur Dhingra of the Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, that it had “spilled onto wildlife”.
More than 500 bird species have been infected, along with at least 70 mammal species, including the endangered California condor and polar bears.
In regions that rely heavily on poultry as a primary source of protein, the FAO doctor insisted that bird flu “poses a serious threat to food and nutrition security”.
Financial damage
Dr. Dhingra warned that the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people have been affected by the virus – a financial burden on farmers that could prevent them from investing in adequate biosecurity measures.
Following the emergence of the H5N1 influenza virus in dairy cattle, the WHO has joined calls for strengthened surveillance and biosecurity on farms to keep animals and people safe.
The UN health agency said that by 2024, 76 people had been infected with the H5 bird flu strain, and most were farm workers. More than 60 cases originated in the United States, which has also reported outbreaks of H5 in wildlife and poultry and more recently in dairy cattle.
Cases have also been reported in Australia, Canada, China, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Low risk to humans – for now
Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, who currently serves as the Director of Epidemic and Pandemic Threat Management for the WHO, said that based on the latest science, “we assess the risk of infection to the public – you and me – currently low.”
But if you work on a farm, she warned — and are exposed to infected animals — “we assess the current public health risk to be low to moderate,” depending on the level of personal protection.
There is so far no evidence that H5N1 viruses have adapted to spread between humans, and there have been no reported cases of human-to-human transmission.
No room for complacency
“However, we must remember that this can change quickly,” added the UN pandemic expert, “as the virus evolves and we must be prepared for such a scenario.”
Any case that occurs in humans must therefore be thoroughly investigated.
Dr. Van Kerkhove also stressed the importance of drinking pasteurized milk – and if it is not available, heating milk before consumption.
“We want to reiterate the critical importance of using a One Health approach across sectors – global, national and sub-national – to tackle bird flu effectively, to minimize the risk in animals and humans,” she concluded.
