The World Health Organization (WHO) cautioned on Thursday that inconsistent surveillance is hindering its ability to manage the risk posed to humans by the H5N1 bird flu virus.
The WHO reported that the United States recently confirmed its fourth human case of H5N1 avian influenza, linked to contact with infected dairy cows.
Meanwhile, Cambodia reported two cases involving children who had been in contact with sick or dead chickens.
“For the moment, no human to human transmission has been reported, which is why WHO continues to assess the risk to the general public as low,” stated Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the UN health agency.
“However, our ability to assess and manage that risk is compromised by limited surveillance for influenza viruses in animals globally,” he emphasized during a press conference.
He highlighted the importance of monitoring how these viruses are spreading and evolving in animals to detect any changes that could increase the risk of human outbreaks or a potential pandemic.
The WHO urged all countries to enhance their influenza surveillance and reporting for both animals and humans, and to share samples and genetic data.
Additionally, it called for better protection measures for farm workers exposed to infected animals and increased research on bird flu.
Spread in US Cattle
Avian influenza A(H5N1) was first identified in 1996. The 2.3.4.4b clade of the virus, which emerged in 2020, has caused a significant rise in outbreaks among birds and an increase in infected mammals.
This strain has resulted in the deaths of millions of poultry, as well as infections in wild birds and various land and marine mammals. Human cases in Europe and the United States have generally been mild.
H5N1 has also been spreading among dairy cattle in the United States, with four reported cases of the disease being transmitted from cattle to humans.
Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s head of epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention, noted that H5N1 had been detected in 145 herds across 12 US states.
“I think that’s only going to continue, given that we’ve seen some expanse of spread, given that we have some, limited sampling that’s happening in dairy cattle — not just in the United States, but globally,” she said.
“We really need to understand the extent of the circulation in dairy cattle.”
Michael Ryan, the WHO emergencies director, pointed out that eradicating disease in domesticated animals is typically easier due to their known locations and the feasibility of applying bio-security measures.
“The difficulty is when that disease exists in pockets of wild animals,” he explained, highlighting the risk of interspecies transmission.
Indonesia’s Former Agriculture Minister Sentenced To 10 Years For Corruption
