Bird flu outbreaks: Should we be concerned?

Avian influenza, or bird flu, is a virus that primarily affects birds but can also infect humans and other animals. In recent years, there have been several outbreaks of bird flu around the world, causing concern among the general public.

Countries ranging from the United States and Britain to France and Japan have suffered record losses of poultry in avian flu outbreaks in the past.

The most recent outbreak occurred in India last month, affecting several states. The outbreak was caused by the H5N8 strain, which is highly pathogenic in birds but has not been known to cause illness in humans. As a precaution, millions of birds were culled to prevent the spread.

Before this, there were also bird flu outbreaks in Europe in late 2020 and early 2021, particularly in the Netherlands, Germany and the United Kingdom. These outbreaks were also caused by the H5N8 strain.

The risk to humans is low. As a precaution, people are advised not to touch dead or sick wild animals.

Globally, 868 human infections with H5N1 avian flu — the type of virus circulating the globe — were reported from 21 countries from January 2003 to November 25, 2022, according to the WHO.

Of these cases, 457 or about 53 per cent were fatal. In January, the WHO reported the first known human case of the avian flu H5 virus in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Human cases are usually the result of direct or indirect exposure to infected live or dead poultry or contaminated environments, WHO said.

How did the outbreak get so bad?

The severity of avian influenza outbreaks can be attributed to several factors, including the high level of contagiousness of the virus, movement of birds across borders, poor biosecurity practices, climate change, and limited access to effective control measures.

At least 60 countries around the world have killed poultry in response to bird flu outbreaks since October 2021, according to Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health data provided to Reuters.

India, Taiwan, Nepal, Peru, the Czech Republic and Romania are among the affected countries.

Highly pathogenic avian flu, such as the type that is circulating globally, can cause disease that affects multiple internal organs, with mortality up to 90-100 per cent in chickens, often within 48 hours, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

If one bird in a flock has avian flu, farmers usually cull all their birds to prevent the spread of the highly contagious virus.

What to do?

So, should we be concerned about bird flu? The answer is — it depends.

While the risk to the general public is generally low, people who work closely with birds, such as poultry farmers and bird handlers, may be at higher risk of infection.

If you work in one of these industries, it is important to take precautions to prevent infection, such as wearing protective clothing and practising good hygiene.

It is also important to keep an eye on the situation and follow public health advice. If there is an outbreak in your area, be sure to stay up to date on the latest developments and follow any instructions from public health authorities.

In conclusion, while bird flu outbreaks are a cause for concern, the risk to human health is generally low. If you work with birds, it is important to take precautions to prevent infection, but for most people, there is no need to be overly concerned.

By staying informed and following public health advice, we can help prevent the spread of the virus and keep ourselves and our communities safe.

M Rubaiyat Adnan Turjo has completed BSc in Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry and is currently a postgraduate Research fellow at the Microbiology and Parasite department at the Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University.