The World Health Organization (WHO) stated on Tuesday that the risk of avian flu to the general population remains “low”. This assessment follows the first reported human death in the United States caused by the H5N1 virus.
Assessment by WHO Spokesperson
Dr. Margaret Harris, a spokesperson for WHO, informed reporters in Geneva that the H5N1 virus is not currently circulating in humans. Instead, it is jumping into humans who have been exposed to poultry or dairy cattle. There is no sustained circulation of the virus among humans, she explained.
The patient who succumbed to the disease in Louisiana was over 65 years old and had underlying medical conditions, according to Harris. Health authorities reported that he had contact with chickens and wild birds.
During the current outbreak in the US, several dozen people have contracted avian influenza, primarily farmworkers in close proximity to poultry flocks and cattle herds.
Harris emphasized that the United States is actively conducting surveillance in both human and animal populations, as well as in farming and food production methods. These combined efforts are crucial to managing the risk posed by avian flu.
Global Bird Flu Cases
Reports of bird flu cases have also increased in Europe towards the end of last year, although the numbers remained lower compared to previous years. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recorded 657 cases in Europe.
In France, a bird flu outbreak was identified in December on two farms in Normandy, just a week after being declared free of the virus. However, the impact in Europe has been less severe than in the US, where significant flock losses have resulted in record egg prices.
avian flu, WHO, H5N1 virus, poultry, farmworkers, bird flu outbreak, EFSA
