WHO says despite 76 avian influenza cases reported in 2024, risk to public remains low

Published December 17,2024

Subscribe

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday reassured that the chance of human an infection from H5N1 avian influenza stays low for most people regardless of 76 circumstances reported globally in 2024.

However, there’s a heightened danger for farm employees and others uncovered to contaminated animals, warned Maria Van Kerkhove, the performing director for epidemic and pandemic risk administration at WHO, talking at a UN briefing in Geneva.

Van Kerkhove stated that almost all of this yr’s circumstances occurred in farm employees, with the U.S. reporting 61 infections amid outbreaks in wildlife, poultry, and extra not too long ago, dairy cattle.

“While there is much attention on the avian influenza situation in the U.S., this year, cases have also been reported from Australia, Canada, China, Cambodia, and Vietnam,” she acknowledged.

WHO assesses the general public well being danger to be low, however for occupationally uncovered people, together with farm employees, the chance is taken into account “low-to-moderate,” she stated.

She added that the extent of danger is determined by mitigation measures in place, corresponding to using private protecting gear (PPE), together with masks, gloves, boots, and eye safety.

NO HUMAN-TO-HUMAN TRANSMISSION

Van Kerkhove emphasised that the H5N1 virus stays avian in nature and has not tailored to unfold between people.

“Thus far, among these cases, there has been no reported or identified human-to-human transmission,” she stated, citing epidemiological and virological investigations.

However, she cautioned that the virus is evolving, and thorough investigations should comply with each human case to detect any attainable transmission.

Addressing the issues over meals security amid H5N1 outbreaks in dairy cattle, she stated that cows contaminated with the virus have been discovered to hold excessive viral hundreds of their milk.

“It is important to reiterate our longstanding advice to consume pasteurized milk. If pasteurized milk isn’t available, heating milk until it boils also makes it safe for consumption,” she suggested, including that meat and eggs must also be totally cooked in areas affected by avian influenza outbreaks.