Selective: Bird Flu Fears

Misbar has discovered that the H5N8 influenza virus, also known as the bird flu, is spreading among birds across the globe. According to Forbes.com, multiple European countries including Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, and the UK have already reported recent outbreaks of the bird flu. 

The good news, according to the American Council of Science and Health, is that H5 influenza does not readily infect humans. Human to human transmission of the bird flu is unlikely. However, one concern is if an avian H5 virus infects a pig that is also infected with a flu virus that is highly adapted to humans, such as the H3N2 and H1N1 viruses that cause seasonal flu. Then, genetic shuffling can result in an entirely new virus popping out of the pig, which could then lead to a pandemic.

At this point however, the average person does not need to worry about the bird flu turning into the next human pandemic. According to the World Health Organization, the primary risk factor for human infection appears to be direct or indirect exposure to infected live or dead poultry or contaminated environments, such as live bird markets. There is no evidence to suggest that avian influenza viruses can be transmitted to humans through properly prepared poultry or eggs.

While the bird flu is spreading throughout the world, it does not appear to be an immediate worry for human illness.