Experts Warn of Potential Pandemic Originating from the U.S. Due to Rising Bird Flu Cases

The H5N1 avian influenza, commonly known as "bird flu," is raising alarms among global health experts who now warn that the next pandemic might originate from the United States. This concern stems from the virus's rapid mutation and its spread among birds and other animals, including cows, which could potentially lead to human infections.

Infectious disease specialists from Spain have expressed particular concern over the evolving situation in the U.S., where the virus has shown an ability to infect wild species and jump to domestic ones, increasing the risk of mutations that could facilitate human transmission. Although there is currently no evidence of human-to-human transmission, the virus's adaptability in crossing species barriers makes it a significant threat.

According to Fran Franco, head of the microbiology department at Juan Ramon Jimenez University Hospital in Huelva and a member of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC), the advanced surveillance and quick reporting systems in the U.S. provide some reassurance. "Do not doubt it. If something happens in the U.S., it will be known instantly," Franco stated, highlighting the robustness of the American health monitoring frameworks.

At a recent media briefing, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), pointed out the concerning spread of H5N1 avian influenza across hundreds of dairy herds in the United States, which has resulted in 58 human cases so far. While these human cases have been mild, the WHO has urged nations to intensify surveillance efforts for bird flu, given the virus's potential for severe outcomes.

Humans can contract avian influenza through direct contact with infected animals' bodily fluids or faeces, or by inhaling virus particles in dust from animal habitats. Workers in poultry and dairy industries are considered at high risk. Symptoms of the virus in humans range from mild—such as pink eye and fatigue—to severe illnesses like pneumonia, acute respiratory distress, and even respiratory failure.

The increase in bird flu cases and its spread to mammals since 2020 has led to the deaths of tens of millions of poultry, affecting not only wild birds but also land and marine mammals. This development underlines the need for vigilant health monitoring and swift action to prevent a potential pandemic originating from such zoonotic diseases.