Leading health experts have warned that the US is staring down the barrel of another pandemic as bird flu spirals out of control on US farms.
So far, the H5N1 outbreak has affected nearly 1,000 dairy cow herds and resulted in more than 70 human cases, including the first confirmed death.
The US poultry industry is at significant risk, say experts from the Global Virus Network (GVN), particularly in areas with high-density farming and where personal protective practices may be lacking.
Since 2022, more than 168 million poultry in the US has been lost or culled due to the bird flu outbreak in America, which has caused the price of eggs to skyrocket.
Although human-to-human transmission has not yet been observed, experts caution that mutations and reassortments — when two viruses simultaneously infect a host and exchange genetic material — could raise the risk of it occurring.
The GVN is now urging world governments to confront the threat of H5N1 avian influenza by strengthening surveillance efforts and enforcing stricter biosecurity protocols.
The organization also warns that countries must prepare for the possibility of human-to-human spread to avoid a chaotic chain of events reminiscent of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr Peter Palese, who is a director at the GVN and world leader in influenza research, explains: ‘Initiatives should focus on enhancing biosecurity measures in agricultural settings and educating the public about safe handling of poultry products and potential risks associated with contact with infected animals.’
