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.
Ukraine has introduced nationwide restrictions on electricity use, enforcing eight-hour daily limits following severe damage to power infrastructure....
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Tehran is pursuing what he termed a policy of “provincial diplomacy” to promote Iran’s trade ...
Russia launched a wave of drone and missile strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure overnight, prompting nationwide electricity restrictions and ...
During his working visit to Samarkand, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov held a meeting with Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov....
Character.AI will ban under-18s from chatting with its AI characters and introduce time limits, following lawsuits alleging the platform contributed t...
A prostate cancer blood test has been shown to reduce the risk of dying from the disease by 13% over two decades, researchers say.
Serious cases of a disorder of the large intestine are surging among Americans younger than 50, researchers say.
Indian police have arrested the owner of Sresan Pharmaceutical Manufacturer, the cough syrup company linked to the deaths of at least 19 children in the central state of Madhya Pradesh, a senior police officer told Reuters on Thursday.
Kabul’s groundwater is falling to record lows, pushing many residents to buy drinking water from mobile tankers, according to the Ministry of Energy and Water (MoEW).
Nokia announced on Tuesday that chipmaker Nvidia will acquire a $1 billion stake in the company.
The deadliest police operation in Brazil's history killed at least 132 people, officials said on Wednesday, after Rio de Janeiro residents lined a street with dozens of corpses collected overnight, a week ahead of global climate events in the city.
Centrist liberal party D66, led by 38-year-old Rob Jetten, has made sweeping gains in the Dutch election, emerging neck and neck with Geert Wilders’ far-right Freedom Party (PVV) in early results — a stunning reversal just two years after D66 ranked sixth.
Reliable sources have confirmed to AnewZ that the United States has asked Azerbaijan to join a Stabilisation Force in Gaza, as part of a proposed international mission to secure the territory.
U.S. President Donald Trump agreed with President Xi Jinping to trim tariffs on China in exchange for Beijing cracking down on the illicit fentanyl trade, Trump said.
A prostate cancer blood test has been shown to reduce the risk of dying from the disease by 13% over two decades, researchers say.
Serious cases of a disorder of the large intestine are surging among Americans younger than 50, researchers say.
Russian President Vladimir Putin asked North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui during talks in the Kremlin on Monday to tell her country's leader Kim Jong Un that everything was "going to plan" in bilateral relations.
U.S. border czar says fentanyl should be considered a WMD.
U.S. states this week warned food aid recipients that their benefits may not be distributed in November if the federal government shutdown stretches into its fourth week.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment