Bird Flu Archives - Disasters News

Apr72025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

India Urges Poultry Farms to Act Fast as Bird Flu Outbreaks Spread to Wildlife

With bird flu cases rising across multiple states and now spilling over into wildlife, the Indian government has issued a stern directive to poultry farms clean up, register, and tighten biosecurity within a month or face consequences. The warning comes as avian influenza continues to spread across regions like Jharkhand, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh, affecting not just poultry but also wild birds and even big cats, signaling a worrying trend of cross-species transmission. At a high-level meeting led by Animal Husbandry and Dairying Secretary Alka Upadhyaya, officials emphasized the urgency of a three-pronged strategy: improve hygiene, enforce strict biosecurity protocols, and ensure all poultry farms are officially registered. Experts at the meeting also reviewed India’s preparedn...

Jan82025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

First US Death from H5N1 Bird Flu Sparks Concern, But Public Risk Remains Low

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In a first for the United States, a Louisiana man has died from H5N1 bird flu, a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Health experts, however, reassure that the risk to the general public remains low. The Louisiana Department of Health reported on January 6 that the man, aged over 65 and with pre-existing medical conditions, contracted the virus after exposure to backyard poultry and wild birds. Officials confirmed there was no evidence of person-to-person transmission in this case. The man, identified as the country’s first severe H5N1 patient, was hospitalized in December with respiratory symptoms. Health authorities diagnosed him with the D1.1 subtype of the virus on December 13. This strain has been spreading widely in U.S. poultry and wild birds. The D1.1 subty...

Dec172024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Study Warns Claims that Pet Cats May Trigger New Bird Flu Pandemic

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A recent study has raised alarms about pet cats potentially becoming carriers of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus, which has devastated poultry farms in the U.S. over the past two and a half years. Published in the journal Taylor and Francis, the study warns that just one or two mutations in cats could allow the virus to jump to humans, posing significant public health risks. Bird Flu’s Hidden Threat H5N1, responsible for the deaths of over 100 million birds, has remained a limited threat to humans due to its difficulty in transmitting between people. However, scientists fear cats common household pets could serve as a bridge for the virus to evolve and spread more easily. The warning comes after the deaths of 10 cats in South Dakota earlier this year. Researchers found that the cat...

Dec102024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

H5N1 Bird Flu Scientists Warn of Potential Human Transmission Risk

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The H5N1 bird flu virus, a highly deadly strain responsible for devastating animal populations, is raising alarms in the United States as scientists closely monitor its spread and mutation patterns. New research indicates that the virus may require only one genetic mutation to become capable of human-to-human transmission, prompting heightened vigilance among public health experts. H5N1 is notorious for its lethality, with a fatality rate of 50% among infected humans. So far, human cases have been rare, typically linked to direct contact with infected birds, contaminated environments, or other animals such as poultry and dairy cows. However, the findings published in Science on December 5, 2024, by researchers at the Scripps Research Institute in California, suggest that the virus could...

May162024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

First Cow-to-Human Transmission of Bird Flu A(H5N1) Confirmed in US

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The transmission of the highly pathogenic bird flu A(H5N1) from a cow to a dairy farmer in the US marks a significant development in our understanding of the virus's behavior and potential risks to public health. This event, the first confirmed cow-to-human transmission of the virus, sheds light on its ability to jump from birds to mammals and underscores the importance of monitoring livestock for signs of infection. The case, which manifested as inflammation in the eye rather than respiratory symptoms, was swiftly identified and reported. This prompt response, coupled with the unique presentation of the virus in humans, provides valuable insights into its transmission dynamics and potential impact on human health. The identification of a specific genetic change in the virus associat...