United States: An imminent avian flu pandemic, potentially surpassing the impact of COVID, looms ahead following the discovery of a rare human case in Texas, caution experts.
Since the identification of a novel strain in 2020, the H5N1 avian flu has swiftly propagated, affecting avifauna in every region and penetrating commercial poultry and domestic flocks alike.
Its emergence in mammals is concerning, with cattle populations across four states falling prey. Federal health authorities disclosed on Monday that a dairy laborer in Texas had contracted the virus.
Dr. Suresh Kuchipudi, a Pittsburgh-based researcher on avian flu, underscored its longstanding position atop the pandemic threat list, spanning numerous years and potentially decades, during a recent forum cited by the Daily Mail. He emphasized the virus’s global presence and its demonstrated capacity to infect various mammalian hosts, including humans, thereby heightening the risk of a pandemic.
Notably, around 52% of individuals infected with H5N1 since 2003 have succumbed, contrasting starkly with COVID’s current mortality rate of less than 0.1%, which was approximately 20% at the pandemic’s outset.
Manifesting symptoms akin to typical influenza, including coughing, body pains, and fever, bird flu can progress to severe, life-threatening pneumonia in certain cases, while others may remain asymptomatic.
The lone symptom reported by the infected dairy laborer in Texas was “eye redness (consistent with conjunctivitis),” as highlighted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The patient has been advised to isolate and is undergoing treatment with an antiviral agent for flu.
Addressing the situation with gravity, CDC Director Mandy Cohen assured both the agency and the entire US that the government is treating the matter seriously. She asserted that the risk to the general populace remains minimal, as the infected individual had direct contact with afflicted cattle. Furthermore, the US Department of Agriculture attested no discernible alterations enhancing transmissibility to humans.
Nonetheless, the detection of avian flu in cattle may signal incipient mutations, posited Cohen. The novelty of this occurrence warrants vigilance, as it provides a reservoir for viral circulation and potential evolution.
The European Food Safety Authority cautioned on Wednesday that if avian A (H5N1) influenza viruses acquire efficient human transmission capabilities, widespread dissemination could ensue, owing to the absence of human immunity against H5 viruses.
To preempt such an eventuality, the US is presently evaluating vaccine components, with two candidate viruses showing promise in combatting H5N1. The White House affirmed its vigilance, with press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre underscoring the administration’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding public health and disseminating pertinent information.