Could a major bird flu outbreak trigger a new pandemic?

One new bird flu has emerged worldwide and is being transmitted mainly by wild birds, causing the largest outbreak of bird flu in history. The disease is on a constant rise, infecting many birds and several mammals.

Although infection in humans is rare, a case in Spain is causing concern around the world due to the possibility of transmission between humans. In this sense, what we know is that there are two mutations of the H5N1 virus, which is responsible for this flu.

Only one of these two mutations is more efficient at infecting humans. In 2021, this virus caused the deaths of many chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese in the United States.

Given this context, scientists are concerned about contamination between people, which could cause a new pandemic.

New pandemic?

Scientists at the University of Colorado are studying the virus of this flu and have come to some conclusions. According to virologists, H5N1 is highly pathogenic to birds.

In humans, the impact of this virus is more complex. Worldwide, there have been few infections from this virus over time (less than 900 cases have been documented). However, about half of these individuals died.

The good news is that this virus does not spread well between humans. People who contracted the disease had direct contact with infected animals, so there is no need to worry for now.

However, we can feel the impact of this disease on the prices of eggs and poultry meat, which are threatened by this virus.

What worries scientists is that, at the end of 2022, the virus began to spread among mammals in Spain. In Peru, sea lions were also infected and succumbed to the virus.

So, theories about us, who are also mammals, have emerged. Could it be possible for this virus to change and cause a new pandemic? We still don’t know for sure. However, the best way to protect yourself from H5N1 is to avoid contact with infected birds.