In the past few months there has been reported cases from different countries all over the world regarding the Bird Flu spreading in human, the first Human death from it death also has been reported.
Rising Problem
On June 11, 2024; the World Health Organization said that a case of human infection with bird flu caused by the H9N2 virus was detected in a four-year-old child in the state of West Bengal, India.
In May 2024, Australia reported its first human case of bird flu, specifically the H5N1 strain, in a child who likely contracted the virus in India. The child has since recovered fully. This case marked the first detection of H5N1 in a person or animal in Australia, health officials at that time assured the public that the risk of human-to-human transmission remains very low.
In India, an alert was issued in Jharkhand (eastern state) following an outbreak of bird flu in the state capital, Ranchi. To prevent the spread of bird flu, authorities culled over 4,000 birds at a government-operated poultry farm. The sale of poultry products was banned within a one-kilometer radius of the outbreak, and strict surveillance measures was implemented.
Bird flu, or avian influenza, is primarily a disease of birds that also can occasionally infect humans. The virus spreads to humans through direct or indirect contact with infected birds, their droppings, or contaminated environments, etc. Here’s a detailed look at how and why bird flu affects humans:
How Bird Flu Spreads to Humans
- 1) Direct Contact: Humans can get infected by touching infected birds, their droppings, or secretions from their eyes or respiratory tract. This contact often occurs in settings like poultry farms, live bird markets, and during handling and slaughtering of birds.
- 2) Contaminated Environments: Infected birds can contaminate surfaces and environments. Humans can become infected with the virus by touching contaminated surfaces near and then transferring the virus to their mouth, nose, or eyes.
- 3) Aerosol Transmission: The virus can become aerosolized (airborne) through dust and droppings, particularly in enclosed spaces like poultry farms, allowing it to be inhaled.
- 4) Consumption of Undercooked Poultry: Though rare, consuming undercooked or raw poultry products from infected birds can potentially cause infection.
Why Bird Flu Infects Humans
- Mutations and Reassortment: Bird flu viruses, like H5N1 and H7N9, can mutate and acquire the ability to infect humans. They can also mix (reassort) with human influenza viruses, potentially increasing their ability to spread among humans.
- Close Proximity to Birds: In many regions, especially in rural and agricultural areas, humans live in close proximity to poultry. This increases the risk of direct contact with infected birds and their environments.
- High Virulence of Certain Strains: Some strains of bird flu, such as H5N1, are highly pathogenic. They can cause severe disease and death in birds, leading to higher viral loads in the environment, which increases the risk of human infection.
Notable Examples
- H5N1: First detected in humans in 1997 in Hong Kong, it has a high mortality rate. Most human cases have been linked to direct contact with infected poultry.
- H7N9: Emerged in China in 2013, it has also caused severe respiratory illness in humans, often linked to exposure at live bird markets.
Preventive Measures
- Biosecurity: Implementing strict biosecurity measures in poultry farms to prevent the spread of the virus.
- Avoiding Contact: Limiting direct contact with live poultry, especially in areas known for bird flu outbreaks.
- Vaccination: Vaccinating poultry to reduce the virus load and spread among bird populations.
- Surveillance and Culling: Monitoring bird populations for the virus and culling infected birds to prevent further spread.
Public Health Response
Organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) emphasize the importance of surveillance, quick response to outbreaks, and educating the public on the risks and preventive measures related to avian influenza.
These efforts aim to reduce the risk of bird flu spread to humans and mitigate the potential for a pandemic if the virus acquires the ability to spread easily between people.
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