There is a concern about the potential for the re-emergence of bird flu on a global scale. The World Health Organisation stresses the critical need for every nation to closely monitor this situation.
The H5N1 virus, known as bird flu, originated in southern China and has since spread across three continents.
This disease is prevalent in several Southeast Asian countries and significantly impacts public health and local economies.
It is also endemic in chicken populations in many regions. The World Health Organisation has initiated an in-depth study to address this substantial epidemic threat.
A severe risk in Australia
An avian flu outbreak has struck Australian poultry farms, significantly reducing the availability of eggs and causing a decline in meat sales.
In response, authorities have culled 1.5 million chickens due to the spreading bird flu, impacting 10 per cent of the nation’s egg-laying hens. This has substantially disrupted the country’s egg supply chain.
Due to the shortage, some retailers have restricted egg purchases, and Australians have had to alter their breakfast choices due to the limited availability of eggs.
It’s important to note that the rapid spread of the bird flu virus strains has been localised to poultry farms in New South Wales, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory, with no reported spread to other parts of the world.
A rapid spread in 07 countries
Many countries have implemented measures to ban the import of animals and animal products from any country where cases of bird flu have been reported.
The virus has evolved through genetic changes that have resulted in drug resistance and adaptation to new host species. The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus is particularly concerning.
This virus was first identified in 1997 and has significantly impacted human health and the economy in Southeast Asia. According to the World Health Organisation, H5N1 infections have been reported in humans in nearly half of the countries in Asia.
The first outbreak of H5N1 in chickens occurred in China in 1996, and the first human case was identified in Hong Kong in 1997.
In December 2003, a large wave of HPAI H5N1 infections emerged in East and Southeast Asia, spreading rapidly in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The virus is now prevalent in chickens in most of these countries, and recurring infections in humans are also being reported. Vietnam and Indonesia face the most significant risk of H5N1 outbreaks in chickens and humans.
A particular mystery among duck species
The H5N1 strain of avian influenza is currently being detected in domestic duck species. As per the World Health Organisation, this virus variant is known for causing asymptomatic infections.
Like other influenza viruses, the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus can undergo rapid evolution through mutations and recombination in its RNA genome. Researchers hypothesise that the virus’s unique genetic traits contribute to its remarkable evolutionary adaptability.
The threat from India
The increasing number of bird flu cases in India has caused some concern in Asia. The World Health Organisation has also designated Sri Lanka as a country to be aware of bird flu. Avian flu is caused by the influenza virus, which primarily affects birds but can also infect other animals and humans.
There are several varieties and sub-variants of the influenza virus, and recently, a child infected with influenza A virus was reported in India. The child is also considered the second patient infected with the influenza A (H9N2) virus after 2019.
The World Health Organisation points out that all cases of bird flu reported so far have been infected by animals, and so far, no evidence has been found that bird flu can be transmitted from humans to humans.
Although it is rare for humans to be infected with bird flu, it is scientifically proven that people in close contact with infected animals have a higher chance of transmission.
