The World Health Organization, WHO, has stated that the risk of Avian Inflenza spreading to a broader population remains “low,” a day after the United States reported its first human death from bird flu.
WHO spokesperson Dr. Margaret Harris informed reporters in Geneva on Tuesday that the H5N1 virus responsible for the disease is “not circulating in humans but jumping into humans” who come into contact with poultry or dairy cattle.
“We’re not observing sustained circulation,” she emphasized.
Harris confirmed that the individual who died from the disease in Louisiana was over 65 years old and reportedly had underlying medical conditions.
Health authorities reported that the individual had been exposed to chickens and wild birds.
Dozens of people in the U.S. have contracted avian influenza – commonly known as bird flu – during the ongoing outbreak, mostly farmworkers who have had close contact with poultry flocks and cattle herds.
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Harris reiterated that the WHO’s assessment of the risk to the general population “remains low and unchanged.”
The primary concern lies with those working in animal industries, as they need stronger protection from the infection.
The WHO spokesperson also highlighted that the United States continues to conduct “extensive surveillance” within both human and animal populations, emphasizing the importance of safety measures in farming and food production practices due to the ongoing risk.
In a separate development, a respiratory virus on the rise in China, the human metapneumovirus, hMPV, has been attracting media attention, though Harris clarified that it does not pose a new or significant threat.
She explained that hMPV infections are increasing in China “as expected during winter,” with seasonal influenza being “by far the most common” respiratory illness, according to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
“China’s reported levels of respiratory infections are within the usual range for the winter season,” Harris said.
“Hospital utilization is currently lower than last year, and there have been no emergency declarations or responses triggered,” she added.
Harris clarified that hMPV was first identified in 2001 and “has been in the human population for a long time.”
She explained that it is a common virus that typically circulates during winter and spring, causing respiratory symptoms similar to the common cold.
Like other common cold viruses, hMPV can lead to more serious illnesses in individuals with weakened immunity, particularly newborns and the elderly.
When asked about hMPV’s mortality rate, Harris described it as “very, very low.”
It is not a pathogen that generally causes death in humans, except for the most vulnerable groups, she concluded, recommending “simple” preventive measures such as wearing masks, improving ventilation in closed spaces, and practicing handwashing.
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