Spread of bird flu raises risks of human infection
The head of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has warned that the spread of bird flu to a wider range of species and geographic areas increases the risks of human infection. Monique Eloit expressed concern over the recent cases of bird flu in dairy cows and a person in the U.S. state of Texas, emphasizing the need to investigate potential transmission between cows. While the number of outbreaks has decreased this season, the virus has reached new regions, including South America and Antarctica, and has affected various mammal species. Eloit highlighted the growing viral load and the risk of contamination to humans. Although bird flu outbreaks have caused serious infections in people with close contact with infected animals, there has been no sustained human-to-human transmission. However, experts warn that the virus could mutate and become transmissible between humans, potentially leading to a large-scale pandemic. The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) has also raised concerns about the lack of human immunity against a transmissible bird flu virus.
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