Context

• Recently, concern about bird flu has increased after a person got infected with it in Texas, America.
• After the confirmation of bird flu in penguins in the Antarctic, now after humans have been infected with H5N1 virus, scientists have issued a warning about this infection.
• He says that H5N1 infection can be 100 times deadlier than corona.

Key Points

• It is noteworthy that the possible impact of H5N1 bird flu virus is a matter of concern among experts.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a mortality rate of more than 50 percent for the H5N1 virus since 2003, significantly higher than the current COVID-19 mortality rate of 0.1 percent.
• Zoonotic influenza viruses usually spread among animals. Due to which humans need to be cautious, because it can infect humans also.
• Infection in humans is spread mainly through direct contact with infected animals or contaminated environments.
• Such influenza A viruses are divided into avian influenza, swine influenza, or other types of animal influenza viruses.
• Avian influenza virus infection in humans can cause a range of symptoms ranging from mild upper respiratory tract infections to more serious diseases, and can be highly fatal.
• According to a report, from 2003 to March 25, 2024, a total of 888 cases of influenza A (H5N1) infection in humans were reported to the World Health Organization from 23 countries, including 463 deaths.

Bird flu in india

• Bird flu outbreaks in India usually occur between post-monsoon and early summer, with a peak in the month of January.
• To ensure that bird flu does not become a pandemic, every country including India needs constant surveillance due to the possibility of mutation of the virus and the threat it poses to both animal and human health.

Ways to avoid bird flu

• Recent WHO guidelines advise humans to avoid contact with high-risk environments such as live animal markets and farms and live poultry, or surfaces.
• To avoid such infections, the World Health Organization has advised people to wash hands frequently or use alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
• Additionally, unprotected contact with animal feces, bedding, raw milk or materials that may have had contact with suspected birds or other animals should be avoided.
• Avoid consuming meat from animals potentially infected with H5N1 bird flu virus infection.
• Milk should be consumed only after boiling it properly. This may help kill influenza viruses.
• One should avoid visiting areas where poultry is reared.

Important Facts For Exam

What is H5N1- Avian Influenza?

• It is a disease caused by Avian Influenza (AI) type A virus found naturally in wild birds throughout the world.

Symptoms in humans

• Its symptoms range from mild to severe influenza-like illnesses such as fever, cough, sore throat, muscle pain, nausea, stomach pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, etc.
• People may also experience severe respiratory illness (e.g. difficulty breathing, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, viral pneumonia) and mental status changes, including seizures.