With the recent report of the first human death from bird flu in the United States, many Americans are experiencing unsettling memories of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, experts warned about a new virus that was sending people to hospitals with severe respiratory issues. While both COVID-19 and bird flu can cause breathing problems, they are quite different in nature.It also State that Bird Flu the Next Pandemic

COVID-19 quickly spread from person to person when it first arrived in the US in 2020, whereas bird flu, particularly the H5N1 strain, has been a long-standing issue mainly affecting animals. Experts already have extensive knowledge about H5N1, which has allowed the US to prepare for the potential risk of a flu outbreak. However, this recent development still raises concerns, especially as the Bird Flu the next pandemic. Here’s what you need to know about H5N1.

What is Bird Flu?

Bird flu, or avian influenza, refers to several strains of the flu that typically affect birds. The strain of bird flu currently causing concern in the US is called H5N1. While some bird flu strains cause mild infections in birds, H5N1 is a highly pathogenic form that often kills infected birds. While bird flu viruses mainly affect birds, they can occasionally jump to other animals, including humans.

Human infections with bird flu are rare, and these infections are typically considered “dead-end” cases, meaning they do not usually spread from person to person. Despite this, the spread of H5N1 to mammals, including humans, has caught the attention of experts.

The History of H5N1

Although H5N1 may sound like a new threat, it’s been tracked by scientists for nearly three decades. The virus was first identified in geese in Southern China in 1996. Since then, it has caused sporadic outbreaks worldwide, primarily in birds. In 2021, H5N1 resurfaced in North America, and scientists began paying closer attention as the virus began infecting a variety of mammals.

In the current wave of infections, H5N1 has spread to over 48 species across 26 countries, causing mass die-offs of marine mammals, including 24,000 sea lions in South America in 2023. In 2024, the World Health Organization’s chief scientist, Dr. Jeremy Farrar, referred to the spread of H5N1 as “a pandemic of animals.”

Since 2022, more than 130 million wild and farmed birds in the US have been affected, and several cases have been detected in mammals and humans. Still it is a bird flu the next pandemic As of now, the CDC has reported 66 human infections in 10 states.

Could Bird Flu the Next Pandemic?

Scientists are closely monitoring the virus to determine if it could evolve into a threat to humans. For a virus to trigger a pandemic, it needs to undergo genetic changes that allow it to spread easily from person to person. This happens when a virus makes mistakes while copying itself, which can sometimes result in beneficial mutations. Additionally, viruses like H5N1 can undergo “reassortment,” where they swap genetic material with other viruses, leading to new and potentially more dangerous strains.

Currently, H5N1 is not easily transmitted among humans if it is then bird flu the next pandemic . While it can infect cows, it does not typically cause fatal infections in them. In humans, the main route of infection seems to be through the eyes, causing symptoms like conjunctivitis (red, irritated eyes). However, scientists believe that the virus could change over time to better infect the human respiratory system, as evidenced by recent cases of severe illness.

How Are People Catching Bird Flu?

Humans typically catch bird flu through direct contact with infected animals, particularly birds. Most human cases of H5N1 have been mild, and no known person-to-person transmission has occurred in the US. Health officials continue to monitor cases closely through contact tracing, but the risk of widespread human transmission remains low at this point.

How to Test for Bird Flu?

If you’ve had contact with sick or dead birds or their droppings and start feeling ill, it’s important to inform your healthcare provider. Testing for H5N1 is available at many commercial laboratories, including Quest and Labcorp, making it easier for doctors to diagnose potential bird flu cases.

Who Is at Risk from Bird Flu?

Dairy and poultry workers, as well as individuals who keep backyard bird flocks, are most at risk of infection. The virus can be found in raw milk and can infect workers if they come into contact with the milk or get droplets in their eyes. The virus is also airborne in environments with large numbers of birds, making it easy to contract through exposure to bird droppings or dust in barns.

Symptoms of Bird Flu

Symptoms of bird flu can include red, irritated eyes, fever, and respiratory issues. Infected farm workers often experience conjunctivitis as their primary symptom, while others may develop respiratory symptoms if exposed to the virus during bird culling activities. In two severe cases of H5N1 infection in North America, one person required life support due to lung and kidney failure, while the other, an older individual, died after exposure to backyard birds in Louisiana.

Can You Get Bird Flu from Milk or Meat?

Milk and meat that have been cooked or pasteurized are safe to eat. Health officials have long advised against consuming raw milk or undercooked meat due to the risk of foodborne illnesses like salmonella. Pasteurization effectively neutralizes the H5N1 virus, and cooking meat to the proper temperature will kill any harmful pathogens.

In conclusion, while the recent death from bird flu in the US is concerning, experts believe the current risk to the general public is low. Monitoring and early detection, along with public health interventions, continue to be key in preventing the virus from spreading further. However, as the virus evolves, experts will continue to keep a close eye on its potential to cause a more widespread human outbreak.