WHO fears bird flu could become the next global pandemic

WHO fears bird flu could become the next global pandemicE.P.

Rapid expansion bird flu In recent years there has been an increase fear that this virus could become the next global pandemic, although the head of influenza prevention at the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that world better prepared than before belonging COVID-19and maybe even vaccine in less than half a year. “It will take between three or four months from the start of the pandemic until the first doses hit the market,” he said. ZhangWenqingwho led the global prevention program for twelve years WHO influenza.

WHO warns of new pandemic: “We will pay dearly”

He clarified that this is not so it is possible to prepare and these vaccines, given that they must be founded in version last belonging virus, the one that causes a hypothetical pandemic. Undoubtedly, their genetic makeup will be different from that At the moment circulates in natureespecially in migratory birds and increasingly in mammals such as seals, minks, sea ​​lions, foxes and more recently domestic species such as dogs or cats.

“Countries like the US are accumulating vaccines based in older versions H5N1 virus (cause of avian influenza), which could perhaps be used initially as first doses to buy time until others with updated content and based on new versions“, he pointed Zhang. From 2020new evolution bird flu, H5N1 2.3.4.4Bquickly spread through the above-mentioned migratory birds throughout the Americas, and more and more cases were reported in mammals, including cows and goats in farms U.S.A.

WHO is not sounding the alarm

The first known infection of the disease occurred in April last year. mammalHuman (a dairy farm worker in Texas) and the fact that the virus was found in milk from infected cows have caused concern, although WHO For now he remains in “short“Epidemic risk H5N1. “From 2021 was reported 28 cases in humans, of which thirteen are of the type 2.3.4.4B”he reminded Zhang. Among these thirteen cases, two are confirmed in Spainone in Chile, the other in Ecuador.

A healthcare worker gives a woman a flu shot.

Since the first cases in humans were recorded ago 20 years some have been confirmed 900 infections and in more than half of them the patient diedalthough the expert asked to take into account the possibility that only the most serious cases had been identified, which hospitalization required

. Another possible explanation for such a large number of deaths is that “at the moment it is an animal virus that tends to pair To recipients person at the bottom respiratory system (lungs), therefore usually causing severe forms of the disease, such as like pneumonia”

The virus is trying to jump

In general, the expert emphasizes, the world will be relatively ready for a hypothetical large-scale arrival bird flu being Human, the species he says the H5N1 virus is trying to adapt to. “The virus is under increasing pressure to overcome the species barrier and establish itself in the human population. Every time you infect a person, it’s an attempt,” he emphasized. Zhang.

The epidemiologist recommended that people at risk of contracting bird flu, such as farm workers, get vaccinated against the regular seasonal flu. Although in principle this will not protect against the first of these diseasesthis will reduce the risk of coexistence of two viruses in the same human body, creating a possible breeding ground for future and dangerous mutations.

Bird flu: are we facing the next pandemic?

The spread of the avian influenza virus to America and to various species of mammals occurred over several years (from 2020 to 2022), during which the alarm on influenza pathogens was reduced on the planet, primarily due to obligatory attention to covid

, but also because preventative measures have minimized the spread of common seasonal influenza. Despite this, he noted Zhang, The world is better prepared for possible pandemics, such as the one that could be caused by flu birds thanks to lessons learned from Covid-19, as well as new tools such as messenger RNA vaccines designed to fight coronavirus.