Changes in the H5N1 bird flu virus in animals in South America seem to indicate that the pathogen is better adapted to mammals, but cases of human infection are still sporadic and “there is no reason to panic”, an expert from the World Health Organization ( WHO ).

bird fluPhoto: Mads Claus Rasmussen / AFP / Profimedia

The H5N1 virus detected in Latin America has “small genetic differences” compared to the virus in Asia, where the first cases were detected several decades ago, “but that does not mean that it is more transmissible to humans,” he explained at the Sylvie Briand press conference. Director of WHO for Pandemic Preparedness, EFE and Agerpres report.

To date, the only confirmed cases of human infection in South America (one in Ecuador and one in Chile, both in recent months) are “sporadic, so we’re not at risk of an epidemic, now it’s an animal health issue.” , the WHO expert assured.

“WHO, in collaboration with other agencies, is closely monitoring cases to detect possible signs that the virus may become more dangerous, but for now there is no need for citizens to worry or panic,” she insisted, adding, however, that bird flu is one of the pathogens , which the WHO is monitoring very carefully in terms of the risk of creating future pandemics, such as the current Covid-19 pandemic.

What is of particular concern to the WHO

The bird flu virus spreads geographically with the help of migratory birds, cases of the disease are detected all over the world, and epidemics are also registered among other species, for example, dolphins or sea lions.

But the spread of the virus to populations of small mammals such as mink is of particular concern to the WHO, as their respiratory tracts contain receptors similar to those of humans.

Over the past two decades, about 900 human cases of H5N1 avian influenza have been reported, with a mortality rate of more than 50%, mostly in East Asia and the Middle East.

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