According to data from the World Health Organization, from 2003 to 2023, a total of 873 human cases of infection with influenza A (H5N1) and 458 deaths have been reported globally from 21 countries. However, to date, no sustained human-to-human transmission has been detected. Detection of avian or bird flu in two humans in the US and one in Australia shows that the virus has adapted for circulation in mammals, raising fresh concerns over the risk of spillover to humans, said experts on Thursday.
The bird flu virus H5N1 has in recent years seen a significant increase in spillover to mammals. Besides killing a record number of birds in 2023, the virus also spread to otters, sea lions, minks, foxes, dolphins, and seals, among others. "The reason for concern is that this virus appears to be spilling over to mammals lately, and in rare instances, to man.
This shows that the virus has recently adapted for circulation in mammals," Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, cochairman of the Indian Medical Association's National Covid-19 Task Force, told IANS. "There is no doubt that human infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A, H5N1 type virus that primarily causes bird flu, has a lot of potential for severe respiratory infection as well as high mortality. But the biggest solace is the fact that human-to-human transmission is extremely rare and almost not heard of," added epidemiologist Dr Ishwar Gilada.
Human Cases Of H5N1 Early this year, H5N1 infected dairy cows in the US and the vi.
)
