Frequent reports of influenza being detected in birds and other animals have raised concerns that bird flu could lead to the next pandemic.
In the ongoing battle against COVID-19, another virus looms, reminding everyone of the potential danger of animal-to-human transmission.Bird flu, or bird flu, has resurfaced with alarming intensity, raising fears of a possible global pandemic, according to the agency University of Cambridge.
Hong Kong’s first major alert came in 1997, when 18 people were infected with bird flu and six died. This marks the first time the highly contagious H5N1 virus has jumped to humans, and it is of urgent concern to influenza researchers studying animal-to-human transmission. The strain observed in Hong Kong has a one-third mortality rate among those infected. The potentially catastrophic consequences of direct human-to-human transmission became a pressing concern.
Avian influenza is classified as World Health Organization (WHO) As a major epidemic threat, the world is currently facing its worst outbreak of avian influenza to date. According to the World Organization for Animal Health, the past year has seen unprecedented outbreaks of bird flu on farms around the world, resulting in the death of more than 140 million poultry from the disease or related culls since October 2021.
The scale and speed of this latest bird flu virus is staggering. It exhibits unusually high mortality rates in a wide variety of bird species and demonstrates enhanced transmissibility among them. While the source of the virus is unknown, major epidemics in wild birds have been identified as a major source of infection on farms, causing enormous stress for farmers and posing a threat to our food supply.
The impact on wild bird populations has been devastating, pushing some species to the brink of extinction. Unprecedented mass mortality was observed, including gannets, terns and cranes. The severity of the situation has even led to the closure of areas such as Lindisfarne due to the high incidence of disease in wild birds on the island.
Avian influenza spreads from wild birds to farmed birds, usually through direct contact or through droppings from farms or feed stores. Poultry farmers are now tasked with implementing strict biosecurity measures to prevent contact between poultry and wild birds. This includes using nets, keeping birds indoors, using bird repellers and eliminating attractants such as ponds. Failure to maintain proper biosecurity is often the cause of outbreaks on farms, highlighting the critical role of human industriousness.
Outbreaks on farms appear to exhibit seasonality, consistent with migration patterns of wild birds. Additionally, outbreaks have spread across the globe due to the birds’ ability to fly long distances. The dynamics of infection within wild bird populations remains incompletely understood, emphasizing the need for ongoing surveillance efforts.
In the United States, the scale of the bird flu outbreak is considered the worst in the country’s history. The virus has been detected in wild birds in all 50 states, killing an estimated 58 million birds, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The seriousness of the situation has prompted testing of poultry vaccines as the government seeks new strategies to tackle the growing outbreak. However, there are concerns that if commercial birds were vaccinated it could have an impact on poultry product exports.
Experts speculate that bird flu may be prevalent in the United States, posing a long-term threat to food security and the economy. Addressing this multifaceted challenge will require collaboration among federal agencies, state agencies, departments of agriculture, and wildlife management.
While the likelihood of bird flu triggering the next pandemic remains uncertain, it is critical to prepare for future global health crises. Professor Derek Smith, Director of the Center for the Evolution of Pathogens at the University of Cambridge, emphasized the importance of continued vaccine development.
According to him, by identifying key virus variants and developing vaccines that provide broad immunity against multiple strains, we can enhance our preparedness for future pandemics. Vaccines have proven to be our best defense, saving countless lives during the COVID-19 pandemic, and there is every reason to believe a vaccine could be developed for future flu pandemics just as quickly.
Published by Medicaldaily.com