23 hours Ago By Satata Karmakar
Another pandemic loading? H5N1 Spreading rapidly across US - sparking serious pandemic fears. In January 2025, Louisiana reported the first bird flu death. The patient died following hospitalization due to severe respiratory symptoms.
Bird Flu Pandemic Alert In US: After battling the deadliest COVID-19 virus for over 5 years, the United States is now grappling with a sudden spike in cases associated with the H5N1 virus, also known as the bird flu virus. According to the latest data, since March 2024, the outbreak has affected over 1,000 dairy herds nationwide, leading to more than 70 human infections and at least one confirmed death. Taking cognizance of the deteriorating situation in the country, the Global Virus Network (GVN) has issued a fresh warning stating that the virus's continued presence in mammals increases the risk of mutations that could enable human-to-human transmission.
They have also emphasised the urgency of enhanced surveillance, standardized testing, and vaccination strategies for both animals and farmworkers. "Understanding the current landscape of H5N1 infections is critical for effective prevention and response," said Sten H Vermund, MD, PhD, chief medical officer of the GVN and dean of the USF Health College of Public Health at the University of South Florida, USA. "The virus' ability to infect both animals and humans, combined with recent genetic changes, underscores the importance of proactive surveillance and rapid response measures.
" Here's what CDC stated about H5N1 avian flu virus - According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the chances of bird flu triggering a COVID-like pandemic in the upcoming days are still a minimal threat to the public in spite of the outbreak. The CDC has, however, emphasized the importance of taking proper preventative measures, particularly for people who have intimate contact with affected animals. In addition to producing outbreaks in poultry and US dairy cows, the CDC reports that H5 bird flu is common in wild birds around the world and has recently been linked to multiple human cases among dairy and poultry workers in the United States.
Bird Flu: What Is It and How Dangerous Is It to Humans? The World Health Organisation (WHO) categorises the H5N1 virus as Avian influenza, or bird flu , which is mainly caused by influenza type A viruses. These viruses, to date, have been a threat to the birds, however, experts have warned that recent studies have confirmed that the parent H5N1 virus has mutated to form other concerning strains which has the ability to evade human immunity and cause fatal consequences. The global health agency says - "The H5N1 strain is highly pathogenic, leading to severe disease and high mortality rates in birds.
In humans, H5N1 infections can range from mild respiratory illness to severe pneumonia and death. The virus is not easily transmitted from person to person; however, most human cases have been linked to direct contact with infected birds or contaminated environments. " var firstScrolled3 = false; window.
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push({ mode: "thumbnails-m", container: "taboola-mid-article-thumbnails", placement: "Mid Article Thumbnails", target_type: "mix" }); firstScrolled3 = true; } }); The current outbreak's expansion into dairy cattle is particularly concerning. While the mortality rate among infected cattle remains low, the virus's ability to infect mammals raises the risk of genetic mutations that could facilitate human-to-human transmission. Bird flu pandemic loading? While the current public health risk is low, CDC is watching the situation carefully and working with states to monitor people with animal exposures.
CDC is using its flu surveillance systems to monitor for H5 bird flu activity in people. Follow TheHealthSite.com for all the latest health news and developments from around the world.
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