New Delhi: The world is still trying to recover from the Corona epidemic, but scientists have sounded another alarm bell regarding bird flu. Experts have warned of the possible danger of a bird flu epidemic. It is being said that it is 100 times more dangerous than Corona virus and half of the people infected with it can die. Recently researchers have discussed the H5N1 strain with bird flu.
According to the report, researchers There are fears that the virus may cross a critical threshold. He has warned that this will spread a global epidemic. Dr. Suresh Kuchipudi, a renowned bird flu researcher from Pittsburgh, spoke about this and warned that “H5N1 has the potential to cause a pandemic.” It infects many mammals, including humans. We are getting dangerously close to this virus, which could cause a pandemic.
The virus is very dangerous!
“We are not really talking about a virus that has not yet infected the human body,” he said. We are talking about a virus that is already worldwide, has already infected many mammals and is continuously spreading. The message is that now is the time for us to get ready to fight against it. John Fulton, founder of Canadian pharmaceutical company BioNiagara, also stressed the seriousness of the H5N1 pandemic. He said that it is more dangerous than Corona. This is more dangerous than Corona. If there is a mutation then the mortality rate is high. Once it infects humans, the mortality rate increases, he said.
What a scary report!
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), out of every 100 people infected with H5N1 bird flu since 2003, 52 have died. Out of total 887 cases, 462 people have died. In comparison, the current COVID-19 mortality rate is less than 0.1%. However, this proportion was around 20% at the beginning of the pandemic. A few days ago, an outbreak of avian flu was reported at a poultry farm in Michigan and an egg producer in Texas. Additionally, the first cases of bird flu infection from a mammal were reported in an infected dairy cow and a person. The White House began strict surveillance after the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed H5N1 infection in a dairy farm worker in Texas.
Bird flu infection from cattle to humans!
This is the first case of bird flu infection from dairy cattle to humans. In 2022, a case in Colorado confirmed bird flu in a person after direct contact with a chicken and subsequent bird droppings. The virus spread rapidly among animal herds in the five US states of Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico and Texas, affecting millions of animals on land and in the sea. Although US health officials say the risk to the public is low, a reported outbreak at the nation's largest producer of fresh eggs is raising concerns.
What is H5N1?
According to a report, H5N1 is a subtype of avian influenza A, a group of bird flu viruses. It is considered more dangerous. Because it causes serious and often fatal disease in birds. Although it primarily affects birds, H5N1 can also infect wild birds and sometimes mammals, including humans. Apart from birds, this disease can also cause death of other birds also. But in some cases there may be mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. H5N1 virus It was first found in birds in China in 1996. An outbreak occurred in Hong Kong a year later. This resulted in 18 cases of direct bird-to-human transmission and 6 deaths.