The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on Wednesday reported the detection of 36 more H5N1 avian flu strains in domestic rats and four more viruses in domestic cats.
"This is really worrying, although there is no immediate threat. The long-term problem is that the more the virus spreads, the more likely it is to mutate or recombine," said Dr Anurag Agarwal, dean of Biosciences and Health Research, Trivedi School. The more likely it is." Biosciences, Ashoka University, told IANS.
“This alone is worrying in terms of future human risks,” he said.However, when it is spreading to animals present in human households, as seen here, the level of concern is higher."
"This is worrying because the virus is spreading among domestic animals with human contact," biologist Vinod Scaria said in a post on X.com.
Recent years have seen a significant increase in the spread of the bird flu virus H5N1 to mammals. The virus killed a record number of birds in 2023.
It spread to otters, sea lions, minks, foxes, dolphins and seals, etc.The virus killed 29 cats in Poland and 38 out of 40 shelter cats in South Korea. Meanwhile, in separate incidents, the bird flu virus also affected several humans in China, Chile, the US and India.
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday confirmed human infection with bird flu caused by the H9N2 virus in a four-year-old boy in West Bengal.
The agency said this is the second human infection of H9N2 bird flu in India, the first in 2019.
Health officials in Victoria, Australia detected the virus in the child.In late March, H5N1 infected dairy cows in the US, and after that, at least three humans in Texas and Michigan reportedly contracted the virus from sick cattle. More recently, a 59-year-old man in Mexico died after being infected with H5N2 bird flu, a strain not previously seen in humans.
"Bird flu, or avian influenza, is a viral disease that primarily infects birds. However, there is a possibility that it can spread to humans and other mammals that come into close contact with infected birds," Dr. Swati Rajagopal, consultant – infectious diseases and travel medicine, Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru, told IANS.
"The H5N1, H7N9 and H5N6 strains have recently caused the most concern because of their potential for human transmission," he said.These infections in humans usually occur through direct contact with sick animals or contaminated environments such as poultry farms."
The severity of avian influenza in humans can range from mild, like a common head cold, to life-threatening. In addition to respiratory problems, bird flu symptoms include inflammation of the eyes (conjunctivitis), stomach and intestinal issues (gastrointestinal symptoms), and even inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) and brain dysfunction (encephalopathy). Can happen.
In rare cases, some people exposed to bird flu, especially the H5N1 strain, do not show any symptoms.
“Influenza pandemics are considered the most significant threat to human health.H5N1 influenza, which is spreading from birds to humans, could be the potential source of the next major pandemic," Gautam Menon, dean of research and professor of physics and biology at Ashoka University, told IANS.
He called for a OneHealth approach that simultaneously focuses on human, animal and environmental health to tackle the growing threat.
"This is really worrying, although there is no immediate threat. The long-term problem is that the more the virus spreads, the more likely it is to mutate or recombine," said Dr Anurag Agarwal, dean of Biosciences and Health Research, Trivedi School. The more likely it is." Biosciences, Ashoka University, told IANS.
“This alone is worrying in terms of future human risks,” he said.However, when it is spreading to animals present in human households, as seen here, the level of concern is higher."
"This is worrying because the virus is spreading among domestic animals with human contact," biologist Vinod Scaria said in a post on X.com.
Recent years have seen a significant increase in the spread of the bird flu virus H5N1 to mammals. The virus killed a record number of birds in 2023.
It spread to otters, sea lions, minks, foxes, dolphins and seals, etc.The virus killed 29 cats in Poland and 38 out of 40 shelter cats in South Korea. Meanwhile, in separate incidents, the bird flu virus also affected several humans in China, Chile, the US and India.
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday confirmed human infection with bird flu caused by the H9N2 virus in a four-year-old boy in West Bengal.
The agency said this is the second human infection of H9N2 bird flu in India, the first in 2019.
Health officials in Victoria, Australia detected the virus in the child.In late March, H5N1 infected dairy cows in the US, and after that, at least three humans in Texas and Michigan reportedly contracted the virus from sick cattle. More recently, a 59-year-old man in Mexico died after being infected with H5N2 bird flu, a strain not previously seen in humans.
"Bird flu, or avian influenza, is a viral disease that primarily infects birds. However, there is a possibility that it can spread to humans and other mammals that come into close contact with infected birds," Dr. Swati Rajagopal, consultant – infectious diseases and travel medicine, Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru, told IANS.
"The H5N1, H7N9 and H5N6 strains have recently caused the most concern because of their potential for human transmission," he said.These infections in humans usually occur through direct contact with sick animals or contaminated environments such as poultry farms."
The severity of avian influenza in humans can range from mild, like a common head cold, to life-threatening. In addition to respiratory problems, bird flu symptoms include inflammation of the eyes (conjunctivitis), stomach and intestinal issues (gastrointestinal symptoms), and even inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) and brain dysfunction (encephalopathy). Can happen.
In rare cases, some people exposed to bird flu, especially the H5N1 strain, do not show any symptoms.
“Influenza pandemics are considered the most significant threat to human health.H5N1 influenza, which is spreading from birds to humans, could be the potential source of the next major pandemic," Gautam Menon, dean of research and professor of physics and biology at Ashoka University, told IANS.
He called for a OneHealth approach that simultaneously focuses on human, animal and environmental health to tackle the growing threat.
