The first human death from H5N1 was reported in the U.S. Since then, health authorities have been monitoring cases and raising alarms about its mutation rate.
Bird flu or H5N1 bird flu has raised alarm after the first human death due to the infection was reported in the US this year. Experts are monitoring the situation and further research into the mutation is underway. Bird flu first emerged in China in 1996. Since then, it has spread widely throughout the world. This strain of flu reportedly has an increased ability to replicate in the brain, which is serious for humans. However, because there is no preexisting immunity, current antiviral treatment may be effective.
This pathogenic avian influenza A is a subtype found in cows, birds and other mammals. Cases have also been reported in humans. Poultry workers or those who are in close contact with infected birds are at high risk. What is certain is that the CDC has not detected “any human-to-human transmission,” experts said according to the IANS report.
“There is no doubt that human infection with the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A virus, H5N1, which primarily causes avian influenza, has a high potential for severe respiratory infection as well as high mortality, with more than 50 percent among around 1,000 human cases worldwide. The biggest consolation is that human-to-human transmission is extremely rare and hardly anyone knows about it,” said infectious disease expert Dr Ishwar Gilada.
In recent years, H5N1 has experienced a significant increase in its spread to mammals. The virus has killed a record number of birds, in addition to spreading to otters, sea lions, mink, foxes, dolphins and seals, among others. In 2024, people working on dairy farms contracted the virus from sick cattle, raising concerns about further spread of the virus.
“Rather, the virus appears to have jumped from poultry directly to man and caused serious illness or death. These cases occurred when humans handled chickens sick with the virus. The concern here is that when they looked at the virus in humans and compared it to those found in poultry farms, the virus had already produced new mutations. This shows that the virus is capable of mutating quickly to adapt to human cells,” explained the expert.
H5N1: symptoms and precautions
Several experts suggest that India may be at risk of contracting the flu due to its vast poultry sector, wetlands, migratory routes, etc.
Symptoms:
- Conjunctivitis
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Cough
In severe cases it can cause sepsis, respiratory failure, pneumonia, etc.
Prevention
No human-to-human transmission has been reported so far. However, it is essential to reduce the risk of contracting the virus in the first place by following these precautions:
- Wash your hands regularly. If you come into contact with wildlife, animals or birds on the street, be sure to wash your hands with soap.
- Protective Equipment: Wear a mask, gloves, and eye protection to stay protected from contaminated dust, feathers, and feces.
- Cook food thoroughly: All poultry products should be cooked to a good temperature to kill the virus.
- Limit exposure: Avoid working around animals and poultry to reduce the risk of bird flu.