Geneva, Switzerland – The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed grave concerns about the rapid spread of the H5N1 bird flu virus, citing its exceedingly high mortality rate in humans.
Since the outbreak began in 2020, tens of millions of poultry have succumbed to the virus. Recent developments have shown the virus spreading among various mammal species, including domestic cattle in the United States, increasing the potential risk of transmission to humans, as reported by the WHO.
“This is a significant concern,” stated Jeremy Farrar, the chief scientist at the UN health agency, during a press briefing in Geneva. Surprisingly, last month, cows and goats were added to the list of affected species, indicating the virus’s ability to infect a wider range of animals.
The A(H5N1) variant has now evolved into a global zoonotic animal pandemic, according to Farrar. The concern lies in the virus’s potential to jump from infecting animals to humans, ultimately leading to human-to-human transmission.
Despite no current evidence of human-to-human transmission, the mortality rate for those infected with H5N1 remains alarmingly high due to the lack of natural immunity in humans. Over the past two decades, there have been 889 reported cases and 463 deaths from H5N1 across 23 countries, giving it a fatality rate of 52%, as reported by the WHO.
The recent case of human infection in the US following contact with an infected mammal underscores the heightened risk of transmission to humans. Farrar emphasized the need for increased monitoring to track human infections, as this is where the virus could potentially adapt and mutate.
Efforts are underway to develop vaccines and treatments for H5N1 to prepare for the possibility of human transmission. Farrar stressed the importance of ensuring that regional and national health authorities have the capacity to diagnose the virus, in case of a potential outbreak among humans.
In conclusion, Farrar stressed the importance of equitable access to vaccines, treatments, and diagnostics to combat the spread of H5N1, calling for global readiness in responding to any potential human-to-human transmission of the virus.