The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is sounding the alarm over a rapidly spreading bird flu crisis. The highly pathogenic H5N1 virus has infected both poultry and mammals, fueling concerns about food security and human spillover.
The virus, first identified in China in 1996, has led to massive culls worldwide, with Europe losing nearly 48 million farmed birds during the 2021-22 epidemic. The United States has also been hit hard, with at least 166 million birds culled since the latest outbreak began. This has sent egg prices soaring.
FAO Deputy Director-General Godfrey Magwenzi described the situation as “unprecedented” and warned of serious impacts on food production, rural jobs, local economies, and consumer prices.
Source: https://www.politico.eu/article/un-agency-warns-of-unprecedented-bird-flu-threat-as-h5n1-virus-jumps-to-mammals