The World Health Organization (WHO) Raises Alarm on Deadly H5N1 Bird Flu Outbreak
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a dire warning about the spread of the H5N1 bird flu, noting an “extraordinarily high” mortality rate in humans. Since the outbreak began in 2020, tens of millions of poultry have either died or been culled, with the virus also infecting several mammal species, including domestic cattle in the US.
US authorities recently reported a person in Texas recovering from bird flu after exposure to infected dairy cattle, with outbreaks detected in herds across six states. The A(H5N1) variant has quickly become a global zoonotic animal pandemic, with no evidence of human-to-human transmission as of yet.
From 2003 to 2024, there have been 889 reported cases of H5N1 worldwide, resulting in 463 deaths and a case fatality rate of 52%. WHO stresses the urgent need for increased monitoring to track human infections and prepare for a possible human-to-human transmission event.
Efforts are currently underway to develop vaccines and therapeutics for H5N1, while ensuring that regional and national health authorities have the necessary capacity to diagnose the virus. The equitable access to vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics is crucial in effectively combating the spread of H5N1 and preventing future outbreaks. Celebrity Beauty Buzz will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates on any developments related to the H5N1 bird flu outbreak.
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