In the wake of the recent global outbreak of avian influenza, also known as bird flu, health organizations and experts worldwide are sounding the alarm about the potential for the virus to spread to humans. The concern is not unfounded, as cases of human infection with the H5N1 virus have been reported since 2003, with 888 cases from 23 countries, leading to 463 fatalities, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The current outbreak has caused devastation in animal populations, including poultry, wild birds, and some mammals, with significant impacts on farmers' livelihoods and the food trade. While largely affecting animals, these outbreaks pose ongoing risks to humans. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the WHO, and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) are urging countries to work together across sectors to save as many animals as possible and to protect people.
"There is a recent paradigm change in the ecology and epidemiology of avian influenza which has heightened global concern as the disease spread to new geographical regions and caused unusual wild bird die-offs, and alarming rise in mammalian cases," said Dr Gregorio Torres, Head of the Science Department at WOAH.
The first-ever bird flu case in a human in the United States was reported in 2022 when a poultry farm worker in Colorado was exposed to infected chicken. He reported only fatigue as the main symptom. However, the situation has evolved with the first-ever transmission of the virus from a mammal – in this case, cattle – to a human reported in April this year. This new development has raised the stakes and intensified the need for vigilance and rapid response.
In an effort to contain the spread of the virus among dairy cattle, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have announced financial incentives to farms. The plan includes payments to help buffer the economic impact on farmers, support the development of biosecurity plans, cover veterinary costs at farms where cattle have tested positive for H5N1, and fund surveillance and testing efforts.
The CDC has also unveiled a new dashboard to track the spread of bird flu, including data on wastewater sampling sites that have tested positive for influenza A. The agency is monitoring 260 people who have been exposed to dairy cows infected with H5N1 and is ramping up surveillance efforts at the national, state, and local levels.
While the virus has not yet shown signs of adapting to spread among humans, the WHO, FAO, and WOAH are urging countries to prioritize surveillance for severe acute respiratory infections and influenza-like illnesses, careful review of any unusual epidemiological patterns, reporting of human infections, and sharing of influenza viruses with WHO's Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) Collaborating Centres for Reference and Research on Influenza.
In a world still recovering from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the potential for another zoonotic disease outbreak is a stark reminder of the importance of global cooperation and preparedness in the face of emerging health threats. As the situation continues to evolve, vigilance and rapid response will be key in averting the spread of bird flu to humans.
Sources:
1. [World Health Organization](https://www.who.int)
2. [U.S. Department of Health and Human Services](https://www.hhs.gov)
3. [U.S. Department of Agriculture](https://www.usda.gov)
4. [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention](https://www.cdc.gov)
5. [Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations](https://www.fao.org)
6. [World Organisation for Animal Health](https://www.woah.org)
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