The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that the risk to the general population from H5N1 bird flu remains low, despite the first reported death from the virus in the United States.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has sought to reassure the public about the risk of bird flu following the death of a patient in Louisiana, marking the first fatality from H5N1 in the United States. The patient, aged over 65 with underlying health conditions, contracted the virus in December after exposure to backyard chickens and wild birds, according to Louisiana health officials.
Speaking at a press briefing in Geneva on Tuesday, WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris said, “We are concerned, of course, but we look at the risk to the general population, and it still remains low.”
Harris also acknowledged the extensive surveillance efforts in the U.S. “They are doing a lot of monitoring. That’s why we’re hearing about it,” she added when asked about the adequacy of tracking measures in the country.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 70 individuals, primarily farmworkers, have been infected with H5N1 bird flu since April. The virus has been circulating among poultry flocks and, in some instances, dairy herds. Like the WHO, U.S. federal and state officials maintain that the risk to the general public remains low.
Experts have been closely monitoring H5N1 for signs of mutation or increased transmissibility in humans. While the virus primarily affects birds, rare cases of human infection typically occur through direct exposure to infected animals.
The CDC continues to encourage poultry workers and others in high-risk environments to exercise caution and follow biosecurity measures to prevent further infections. Public health officials are also urging individuals to report unusual bird die-offs and maintain vigilance during outbreaks.
Despite the isolated U.S. case, the WHO and CDC stress that the general public remains at minimal risk, with ongoing surveillance efforts designed to detect and address potential threats promptly.
Three new sites in Africa — Malawi’s Mount Mulanje, Cameroon’s Diy-Gid-Biy cultural landscape, and the Bijagos Archipelago of Guinea-Bissau — ...
Sotheby’s in New York is set to auction the largest known piece of Mars ever found on Earth—a 54-pound (24.67 kg) meteorite named NWA 16788....
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese began his visit to China on Saturday by arriving in Shanghai with a large business delegation, highlighting...
A fire at a high-rise apartment building in Türkiye’s capital, Ankara, has killed three people — including a three-and-a-half-month-old baby — ...
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump will visit Britain’s King Charles III from September 17 to 19, Buckingham Palace announced Sunda...
Harvard researchers have discovered a new way to stop malaria transmission—by giving mosquitoes malaria drugs that kill the parasite inside them.
A woman from Guadeloupe has become the only known person in the world with a newly discovered blood group, which French scientists have named “Gwada negative.”
A deadly weekend attack on a hospital in Sudan claimed the lives of more than 40 people, including children and healthcare workers, drawing international condemnation.
The world is facing a health financing emergency as global health investment risks falling to its lowest level in a decade, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
A deadly mass shooting early on Monday (7 July) in Philadelphia's Grays Ferry neighbourhood left three men dead and nine others wounded, including teenagers, as more than 100 shots were fired.
Australian researchers have created a groundbreaking “biological AI” platform that could revolutionise drug discovery by rapidly evolving molecules within mammalian cells.
Dozens of international and domestic flights were cancelled or delayed after Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted on Monday, but Bali’s main airport remains operational.
French member of parliament Olivier Marleix was found dead at his home on Monday, with suicide being considered a possible cause.
Harvard researchers have discovered a new way to stop malaria transmission—by giving mosquitoes malaria drugs that kill the parasite inside them.
In a show of diplomatic unity, Italian and French foreign ministers met in Rome to address global crises, calling for urgent ceasefires and coordinated support on Ukraine, Gaza, and Iran.
The European Union is stepping up its health crisis preparedness by stockpiling essential medical supplies and boosting coordination among member states.
New artificial intelligence (AI) software is helping NHS hospitals in Hull reduce MRI scan times, enabling staff to scan more patients each day while improving accessibility for vulnerable groups.
France will impose its toughest outdoor smoking restrictions starting Monday, banning smoking at beaches, parks, playgrounds, and bus stops.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment