The unfold of chicken flu to an rising variety of species and its widening geographic attain have raised the dangers of people being contaminated by the virus, the top of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) mentioned on Thursday.
Monique Eloit’s feedback come after the U.S. authorities reported instances of the illness in dairy cows in a number of states and an individual in Texas, which she mentioned would solely be a powerful concern if there had been a transmission between cows, one thing the U.S. authorities are nonetheless investigating.
Avian influenza, generally known as chicken flu, has led to the culling of tons of of tens of millions of poultry across the globe up to now years, with the virus principally carried by migrating wild birds.
Although the variety of outbreaks has been decrease this season the virus has unfold to new areas, together with South America and Antarctica, and hit a bigger variety of animals, decimating colonies of uncommon species.
Foxes had been the mammal species most affected by chicken flu however the virus additionally contaminated dozens of different species together with cats, tigers, seals, dolphins and bears.
“Over the last few months, we have had a whole series of diverse and varied mammals. It is worrying to see this extension to other species,” the top of the Paris-based organisation advised Reuters in an interview.
“Ultimately, we find ourselves with more and more species and more animals which are contaminated, therefore necessarily a higher viral load with a risk of contamination of humans,” she mentioned.
Some outbreaks of chicken flu have precipitated severe or deadly infections amongst individuals who have shut contact with wild birds or poultry however so far there was no sustained human-to-human transmission noticed. For most people who find themselves not uncovered to contaminated animals, the chance of catching the illness could be very low, scientists say.
Animal and human flu viruses are inclined to mutate, elevating concern that one will flip into one which may be transmitted between mammals, together with people.
The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) warned on Wednesday of a large-scale chicken flu pandemic if the virus turns into transmissible between individuals as people lack immunity towards the virus.
Source: www.anews.com.tr
