Experts Warn Bird Flu is Changing Rapidly in the Largest Ever Outbreak

The world is currently witnessing an unprecedented avian influenza outbreak (bird flu), with experts warning of the virus’s rapid mutation. Although the risk to humans is still low, this situation calls for proactive measures, especially from the poultry industry.

Source: Bloomberg Quicktake/Youtube

First emerging in 1996, the H5N1 bird flu virus has been mostly contained to seasonal outbreaks until a significant change occurred in mid-2021. Richard Webby, head of a World Health Organization collaborating center studying influenza in animals, notes that the virus has become increasingly infectious since then. This has led to year-round outbreaks, causing mass deaths among wild birds and resulting in tens of millions of poultry being culled worldwide.

Research led by Webby and published in Nature Communications reveals how the virus has evolved as it spread from Europe into North America, becoming more virulent and causing more dangerous diseases. Alarmingly, recent experiments found a new strain causing an unexpectedly “huge” amount of virus in the brain of a ferret, indicating more serious disease than previous strains.

Another worrisome development is the virus’s increasing detection in mammals, from sea lions and dolphins in Chile to minks in Spain. This suggests potential transmission between mammals, which, according to Webby, is a “really, really troubling sign”.

Ian Brown, virology head at the UK’s Animal and Plant Health Agency, reassures that the virus remains “unadapted to humans”, binding to different cell receptors than human viruses. But it would only take “two or three minor changes in one protein of the viruses” to become more adapted to humans, Webby warns.

With the need to reduce the overall number of bird flu cases and consequently the human risk, a call to vaccinate poultry worldwide is echoing among experts. While some countries like China, Egypt, and Vietnam have launched poultry vaccination campaigns, others have shown reluctance due to import restrictions and the risk of vaccinated but infected birds slipping through unnoticed.

As the virus evolves, the need to address this outbreak becomes even more pressing. Let’s raise awareness about this situation and call for more frequent vaccination in traditionally reluctant countries. Together, we can help prevent this bird flu outbreak from escalating further and potentially affecting humans. Stay informed and vigilant.

Speak Up Tee By Tiny Rescue: Animal Collection

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade over and over again.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!