The first bird-flu (H5N1) related human death has been reported in the US, according to the Louisiana department of health, where the death occurred.
About Bird Flu (Avian Influenza):
- Caused by Viruses:
- Bird flu is caused by avian influenza viruses that primarily infect birds but can also affect mammals and, in rare cases, humans.
- The major strain circulating worldwide is H5N1, which originated in China in the late 1990s.
- Transmission:
- Human infections are extremely rare and typically result from close contact with infected live or dead birds or contaminated environments.
- There is no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission.
- Global Impact:
- Since 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded 954 confirmed human cases of H5N1, with a mortality rate of about 50%.
- Since 2022, outbreaks have increasingly affected mammals, including farmed fur animals, seals, sea lions, foxes, bears, otters, raccoons, and domestic animals like cats and dogs.
- Geese/Guangdong Lineage:
- First detected in 1996, this lineage of H5N1 avian influenza viruses has caused numerous outbreaks in birds globally.
- Bird migration plays a critical role in spreading the virus to both domestic and wild bird populations.
- Mammalian Outbreaks:
- Reports since 2022 indicate that land and sea mammals are increasingly affected, suggesting the virus’s ability to infect a broader range of hosts.
- Undetected outbreaks in mammals are likely, given the diversity of affected species.
(Source: BBC & WHO)
