About Bird Flu

• Bird flu, also called avian influenza, is a viral infection caused by Influenza Type A viruses which spreads from bird to bird. 
• These viruses occur naturally among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species. 
• There are several subtypes of the avian influenza virus. Currently, a particularly deadly strain of bird flu — H5N1 — continues to spread among poultry in Egypt and in certain parts of Asia. The H5N1 virus can cause severe flu with a high mortality rate.
• Avian influenza viruses do not normally infect humans. However, there have been instances of certain highly pathogenic strains causing severe respiratory disease in humans. In most cases, the people infected had been in close contact with infected poultry or with objects contaminated by their faeces. 
• However, the World Health Organization had expressed concern that the virus could mutate to become more easily transmissible between humans, raising the possibility of an influenza pandemic.

Why in News?

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that ongoing avian influenza outbreaks in animals are raising concerns about the potential risks to humans.
• In 2022, 67 countries reported H5N1 outbreaks in poultry and wild birds, resulting in the loss of over 131 million domestic poultry. In 2023, another 14 countries have reported outbreaks, mainly in the Americas.
• Recent reports indicate that avian influenza outbreaks are also affecting mammals, including farmed mink, seals, sea lions, cats, and dogs. This shift in the epidemiology of avian influenza, with increasing cases among mammals, has raised global concern. 
• The concern stems from the fact that mammals are biologically closer to humans than birds, making the potential for virus adaptation and transmission to humans a significant risk.
• While sporadic cases of H5N1 virus infections in humans have been reported, the risk of human-to-human transmission remains low. However, the WHO has stressed the importance of vigilance and monitoring for any changes in the virus that could enhance its ability to spread among humans.
• To address the ongoing outbreaks and mitigate the risks, the WHO urged countries to take several actions. These include implementing enhanced biosecurity measures to prevent avian influenza at its source, rapidly detecting and responding to animal outbreaks, strengthening influenza surveillance in animals and humans, conducting epidemiological and virological investigations, and promoting collaboration between the animal and human health sectors.