Bird flu, or H5N1, has taken an unexpected turn in North America, raising global health concerns. The virus has infected dairy cattle across the US and Canada, a first for cows worldwide. This unprecedented spread shows the virus is adapting in ways that concern health experts.
Beyond farms, bird flu has caused deaths among wild animals, including big cats, seals, foxes, and bears. In the US, California declared a state of emergency after the virus affected 660 dairy farms. The impact on mammals is unprecedented in H5N1’s known history.
H5N1 was first detected in humans in Hong Kong in 1997, causing six deaths. Since then, it has caused over 900 human infections with a mortality rate exceeding 50%. However, recent cases have been mild, particularly among dairy workers. Two severe cases in late 2024 have caught medical experts’ attention, highlighting the virus’s concerning mutations.
The key to understanding H5N1’s threat lies in its molecular structure. The virus struggles to spread between humans due to its reliance on avian-specific receptors. While recent mutations allow better binding to human lung cells, it still cannot efficiently replicate in the nose and throat crucial for human-to-human transmission.
To reduce the risk of H5N1 becoming a pandemic, the public can take precautions such as avoiding sick or dead birds and animals, consuming only pasteurised dairy products, and protecting pets from wild bird contact. As we enter 2025, the international community faces a critical challenge in containing the virus’s evolution in different species.
Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/scientifically-speaking-is-bird-flu-the-next-pandemic-101735139346396.html