Bird flu is spreading quickly around the world - should we be concerned?

A fresh outbreak of the deadly bird flu has sparked fears of another pandemic. Here’s everything you need to know.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for vigilance after an outbreak of bird flu, with the virus spreading quickly around the world.

The return of the virus has many worried there could be a crossover to humans, and plunge the world into another pandemic.

Here is what you need to know about the virus, known as H5N1.

IS IT DANGEROUS TO HUMANS?

“The recent spillover to mammals needs to be monitored closely,” the UN health agency’s chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, stressing that “for the moment, WHO assesses the risk to humans as low”.

Mr Tedros said that since the virus first emerged in 1996, “we have only seen rare and non-sustained transmission of H5N1 to and between humans.”

But, he cautioned, “We cannot assume that will remain the case, and we must prepare for any change in the status quo.”

A total of 864 human cases of H5N1 have been reported to the WHO since 2003, with 456 human deaths recorded, giving an estimated fatality rate of about 50 per cent.

Last month, Ecuador reported South America’s first case in a human - a nine-year-old girl who was in contact with backyard poultry. The girl’s condition was “improving,” WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan told reporters, adding that so far, there was no indication that other people had been infected.

WOULD THIS STRAIN SPREAD QUICKLY BETWEEN HUMANS?

No. Even if the virus did spread to humans, it is not well-adapted to the human population, which makes human to human transmission unlikely.

Bird flu is again causing concern around the world. Picture: CSIRO

HOW MUCH RISK IS THERE IT WILL JUMP TO HUMANS?

The recent detection of the disease in a number of mammals, including foxes, otters, minks, sea lions and even grizzly bears, has sparked growing concern that humans could be more at risk.

Sylvie Briand, WHO epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention director, said “we need to be vigilant to make sure that spread in animals is contained.”

“The more the virus circulates in animals, the higher is the risk for humans as well,” she said, adding that this was “because the virus circulating in animals can evolve to forms that are more transmissible.”

WHEN DID THE CURRENT OUBREAK START?

H5N1 reappeared in Europe in late 2021, with huge number of infections also in North and South America and Africa.

HOW MANY BIRDS HAVE DIED?

Half a billion poultry birds around the world, including 58 million in the US, are estimated to have died.

Bird flu has killed thousands of snow geese in two separate areas of Colorado since November. Picture: AFP

WHAT IMPACT IS IT HAVING ON FOOD SUPPLY?

It could threaten supplies of eggs and chicken meat, and potentially other meats too, including bacon and pork.The price of eggs has already skyrocketed to record levels in some countries.

CAN THE BIRD FLU BE CONTROLLED?

Experts say it’s unlikely.

The number of cases of the virus in wild bird populations indicates that it will be nearly impossible to bring outbreaks in chicken farms under control quickly.

“It’s a new war,” Bret Marsh, the state veterinarian in the US state of Indiana, told Reuters.

“It’s basically a 12-month vigil.”

HAS H5N1 BEEN FOUND IN AUSTRALIA?

There have never been any cases of H5N1 detected in Australia, although strains of the HPAI virus have been found in the past.

It is mainly spread by large species of waterfowl that don’t migrate to Australia, but there is a chance migrating shorebirds could bring it here.

WHAT IS WHO DOING ABOUT IT?

Tedros called on countries to “strengthen surveillance in settings where humans, farmed or wild animals interact.”

“WHO is also continuing to engage with manufacturers to make sure that if needed, supplies of vaccines and antivirals would be available for global use,” he said.

Originally published as Bird flu is spreading quickly around the world - should we be concerned?