Current Threat Level of H5N1 Bird Flu Virus to Humans is Minimal: WHO
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Geneva, Dec 21 (NationPress) The global public health threat from influenza A (H5N1) viruses is currently assessed as low, with infection risks for those in occupational settings falling between low to moderate, as stated by the World Health Organization (WHO).
This assessment was made jointly by the WHO, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), based on findings that indicate that human infections mainly arise from contact with infected animals or contaminated environments, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
Despite an uptick in cases, the overall number remains low, with no major implications for global public health. However, animal-to-animal transmission continues, particularly in areas where effective preventive measures are lacking, placing farm workers and others in contact with infected animals at varying levels of risk, contingent on local circumstances and control efforts.
During a press briefing on December 17 in Geneva, experts from WHO, FAO, and WOAH provided insights into the global H5N1 scenario and cautioned about the potential evolution of the virus.
Maria Van Kerkhove, an expert on emerging diseases from WHO, noted that by 2024, there have been 76 documented cases of H5N1 infection in humans, with 61 occurring in the United States, primarily among farm workers.
While H5N1 is predominantly a poultry virus with no confirmed instances of human-to-human transmission, Van Kerkhove warned that the virus could evolve quickly.
In addition to human cases, the United States has seen extensive outbreaks of H5N1 in wildlife and poultry, along with recent infections in dairy cattle across 15 states.
Madhur Dhingra, Senior Animal Health Officer at FAO, highlighted the significant economic repercussions for global poultry industries, which threaten food and nutrition security in the impacted regions. Beyond poultry, the virus has infected over 500 bird species and 70 mammalian species, including endangered species such as California condors and polar bears, emphasizing the broader ecological impacts.
While human infections remain infrequent and the public health risk is low, experts caution that ongoing animal-to-animal transmission still represents a potential danger. Global health organizations have called for sustained vigilance and collaboration to monitor and mitigate the virus's effects.
