The H5N1 pathogen is currently spreading in the US. It has now even reached dairy cattle and has been found in commercial dairy products. It could be the beginning of a pandemic that could be even more catastrophic than Covid.
“There has never been anything like this, such extremely large outbreaks in cows – all experts are concerned,” the chief virologist of the Berlin Charité, Christian Drosten, told the editorial network Germany (Saturday editions).
The spread of bird flu among mammals could also be “minor, the virus needs several steps to adapt and it may already be under control in advance,” Drosten continued. “But it could also be the start of the next pandemic, which we are following live here.”
The virologist explained that there is also a lack of better data insight for a more accurate assessment. “We do not yet know how often people who handle these infected cows become infected.” It is desirable that decisive action is now taken in the US: “With quarantine. So that they try to isolate the infected herds; look at where people have had contact and whether they have antibodies in their blood. Think about certain hygiene measures. And also about vaccinating cows.”
Virus changes quickly
“If the bird flu virus spreads to humans and causes a pandemic, the corona pandemic will be like a walk in the park,” epidemiologist Timo Ulrichs explains to the German “Focus”. Current developments show that the bird flu virus is changing. However, it would be difficult to predict how, if and when this would have pandemic potential.
The world is not prepared for impending pandemics
An expert report recently criticized the world for being unprepared for the threat of future pandemics. “If H5N1 spreads from person to person, the world would likely be overwhelmed again,” warned former New Zealand Prime Minister and study co-author Helen Clark. A bird flu pandemic could be “potentially even more catastrophic than COVID-19.”
Source: Krone
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