Risk of human-to-human transmission of avian influenza increasing

As outbreaks of bird flu double worldwide, the risk of human-to-human transmission increases, according to the report. A total of 1,022 outbreaks of bird flu were recorded in 55 countries last year, up from 459 in 2023, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) reported on Friday. Emmanuelle Soubeyran, the organisation's head, spoke of an "alarming" trend as the nature of the virus' spread is changing.

Outbreaks of swine flu in mammals such as cattle, dogs and cats, according to the report, increase the likelihood that the virus will adapt to be transmitted to humans. Recently, avian influenza has been spreading first in cattle farms in the US, showing signs of mutation.

The return of US President Donald Trump to the White House is leading to cuts in funding for US healthcare and research institutions. Among other things, all staff in the special epidemic research programme have been laid off.

Bird flu is not only an animal health crisis, but also an „international emergency that destabilises agriculture, food security, trade and ecosystems“, warned WOAH.

More than 630 million birds have died or been killed on farms in the last two decades, the report said. Mass mortalities have occurred several times over in the wild.