H5N1 bird flu: What experts say about the disease that could be '100 times worse than Covid-19'

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) has confirmed at least one human case of avian influenza infection in Texas linked to contact with an infected cattle

An outbreak of bird flu has now spread to dairy cattle herds across six states in the US. This marks the first case of the highly pathogenic strain of bird flu infecting cattle. An expert cited by UK’s Dailymail tabloid warned that the HN51 outbreak could be “100 times worse than” Covid.

“And now we are getting dangerously close to this virus potentially causing a pandemic,” Dr Suresh Kuchipudi, a bird flu researcher in Pittsburgh, said at a briefing.

Backing Kuchipudi’s concerns, John Fulton, a pharmaceutical industry consultant for vaccines and founder of Canada-based company BioNiagara, said, “I think this is a virus that has the greatest pandemic threat [that is] playing out in plain sight and is globally present. This appears to be 100 times worse than Covid, or it could be if it mutates and maintains its high case fatality rate.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) has confirmed at least one human case of avian influenza infection in Texas linked to contact with an infected cattle. The individual, exhibiting conjunctivitis as the primary symptom, has been treated with antivirals and is reported to be recovering.

Earlier in 2022, another human case was reported after a prison inmate in the US caught the infection while killing an infected bird at a poultry farm.

What is H5N1?

It is a subtype of avian influenza, which is a group of related bird flu viruses, according to a report by Live Science. The virus causes fatal illness in poultry and it is considered highly pathogenic. According to experts, it usually affects birds and mammals, including humans, but rarely mammals.

The bird flu virus Type A H5N1 was first identified in 1959 and it evolved like other viruses since then with the birth of newer versions. Since 2020, the virus has been spreading among more animal species, including dogs, cats, skunks, bears and even seals and porpoises in several countries. It was identified as a threat for the first time in 1997 during an outbreak in Hong Kong.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms are similar to that of flu, including cough, body aches and fever. Some people don’t have noticeable symptoms, but others develop severe, life-threatening pneumonia.

Should you be worried?

Officials believe that the risk to the public is low. However, concerns are rising after an outbreak was reported at the largest producer of fresh eggs in the US.

CDCP is taking the outbreak of the flu very seriously, said Dr Mandy Cohen, who is the director of the agency, adding that the virus has already been well studied.

The virus is now in cattle, which is a worrying factor, according to the experts. Farmworkers will now have to take precautions not just with birds, but cattle as well, Cohen said.

In a grim data shared by the World Health Organization, H5N1 bird flu has been fatal for 52 out of every 100 people diagnosed since 2003, with a total of 462 deaths out of 887 cases. In contrast, the current fatality rate of Covid-19 is less than 0.1 per cent. It was 20 percent at the beginning of the pandemic.

Most infected people have gotten it directly from birds, but experts are constantly checking for any sign of spread among people.

With inputs from AP