H5N1 bird flu in humans: What do we know so far

The warnings by experts, cited by UK Tabloid DailyMail, have alarmed health experts and the public. It is said that bird flu, caused by the H5N1 virus, can cause a pandemic multiple times worse than COVID, which we are dealing with currently. Health experts are already preparing to tackle Disease X, a hypothetical disease that could be worse than previous pandemics human beings have seen.

On April 2, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report on its website giving details about an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) viruses in Texas. "The genome for the human isolate had one change (PB2 E627K) that is known to be associated with viral adaptation to mammalian hosts, and which has been detected before in people and other mammals infected with HPAI A(H5N1) virus and other avian influenza subtypes (e.g., H7N9), but with no evidence of onward spread among people," the US CDC report says. However, the concern lies in the fact that the fatality rate in bird flu cases seen in humans is almost 50%. Of the 887 cases detected in humans since 2003, the WHO says, more than 400 deaths were recorded.

H5N1 was first identified in birds in 1996 in Guangdong, China, and quickly spread to other countries in Asia, Europe, and Africa. The virus primarily infects wild birds, especially waterfowl such as ducks and geese, but can also spread to domestic poultry. Humans typically contract H5N1 through direct contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces, although rare instances of human-to-human transmission have been reported.

H5N1 infection in humans can cause severe respiratory illness with symptoms such as high fever, cough, sore throat, difficulty breathing, and pneumonia. Gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting may also occur. The mortality rate for H5N1 infection in humans is relatively high, estimated at around 50%, making it one of the deadliest known strains of influenza. Prompt medical treatment, including antiviral medications, is crucial for improving the chances of survival.

While H5N1 has caused relatively few human cases compared to other strains of influenza, its high mortality rate raises concerns about its pandemic potential. Efforts to monitor and control H5N1 outbreaks in poultry populations are essential for preventing further spread and reducing the risk of human infection.

Several measures are recommended to reduce the risk of H5N1 infection in humans. These include avoiding direct contact with sick or dead birds, practicing good hygiene such as frequent handwashing, properly cooking poultry and eggs before consumption, and wearing personal protective equipment when handling birds or working in poultry farms. Vaccination of poultry populations is also crucial for preventing the spread of H5N1 among birds and reducing the risk of human exposure.