Key Points
- The H5N1 pressure of chicken flu is spreading quickly to new territories and species.
- It’s but to achieve Australia, which is shocking, in keeping with one skilled.
- The pressure isn’t seen in people although the mortality price is excessive.
So which animals are most in danger and the way can we defend them? How harmful is H5N1 for people? And when is it anticipated to reach in Australia?
Which animals has H5N1 impacted?
Cows and goats joined the checklist final month – a shocking growth for specialists as a result of they weren’t considered inclined to this sort of influenza.
The H5N1 chicken flu pressure has now been present in marine animals, cows and goats. Source: AAP / Charlie Litchfield/AP
“Bird-to-cow, cow-to-cow and cow-to-bird transmission have additionally been registered throughout these present outbreaks, which recommend that the virus could have discovered different routes of transition than we beforehand understood,” Wenqing Zhang, head of the worldwide influenza program on the World Health Organisation, advised a media briefing in Geneva.
“The extra mammalian species that we see contaminated, the extra probably we’re to see mammalian variations.”
Is H5N1 in Australia and what injury might it do?
“I’m perplexed as to why it isn’t right here for the time being, and I’m hoping that that is a very constructive signal, however I do not assume we are able to financial institution on that. All it takes is just a few wayward birds.”
The H5N1 pressure of chicken flu is spreading quickly, showing in new territories and new animal species.
If it did arrive on our shores, H5N1 might trigger vital illness amongst our wild birds and marine life, she added.
“We did a research a few years again displaying that black swans are actually, actually inclined and it might be devastating if we misplaced them as a species.”
How a lot are people in danger from H5N1?
It was solely the second case of a human testing constructive for chicken flu within the United States, and got here after the virus sickened herds that had been apparently uncovered to wild birds.
The virus could have discovered different routes of transition than we beforehand understood.
Wenqing Zhang, head of the worldwide influenza programme on the World Health Organisation
Short stated the chance to people at this level is “comparatively low however nonetheless there”.
It’s attainable that H5N1 might in the future be capable to transmit effectively between people. Source: AAP
“This virus has been round for the reason that late nineties and it is by no means been in a position to transmit effectively from human to human.
“Whether or not that may change sooner or later, I do not know.”
Is there a chicken flu vaccine?
“We are engaged on new vaccine methods that may be quickly rolled out particularly for this virus,” Short defined. “There’s plenty of actually lively analysis happening about this particular pressure in order that if one thing does occur, we’re ready. “
What about H5N1 in milk?
The virus has additionally been detected in uncooked milk from contaminated animals in “very excessive virus concentrations”, Zhang stated, however specialists had been nonetheless investigating precisely how lengthy the virus is ready to survive in milk.
Bird flu pressure H5N1 has been present in uncooked milk taken from contaminated animals. Source: Getty / Getty Images
The Texas well being division has stated the cattle infections don’t current a priority for the industrial milk provide, as dairies are required to destroy milk from sick cows. Pasteurisation additionally kills the virus.
“It is vital for folks to make sure protected meals practices, together with consuming solely pasteurised milk and milk merchandise,” Zhang stated.
What can Australians do?
– With Agence France-Presse
