The bird flu is in a “new dangerous phase” – which could lead to a pandemic.
It warns American experts.
-I’m not yet the Packa-bag-and-flee-to-mountain-scared. But there have been signals that the virus can start a pandemic, says Richard weby, influenza expert, to The New York Times.
Bird flu, H5N1, has long spread globally. Over the past twenty years, more than 900 cases have been confirmed in humans, with a mortality of up to 50 percent.
State epidemiologist Magnus Gisslén, who is also a professor of infectious diseases at the Sahlgrenska Academy, explains that over time the virus changed and gained an increased ability to infect many different bird species.
It often causes serious infection in birds and has also shown the ability to spread to different types of mammals, which has also been seen in North and South America.
– But the new thing is that the virus can infect cows, which was quite unexpected. This is the first time you have seen a bird flu virus infect cattle, says Magnus Gisslén.
It was last year that the first case at cows was reported. Now it spreads quickly in dairy farms in the United States. So far, more than 60 people have been infected, one of whom has died.
“I’m not-pack-bag-scared”
Now, several American experts believe that a pandemic can break out.
-I’m not yet the Packa-bag-and-flee-to-mountain-scared. But there have been signals that the virus can start a pandemic, says Richard weby, influenza expert, to New York Times.
The more people and mammals that are infected, the greater the risk that the virus will change through mutations explains Gisslén.
– If the virus changes and adapts to spreading between mammals – and, in the worst case, also between humans – the spread of infection can increase. That has not yet been seen, and that is something we want to prevent.
Gisslén emphasizes that the situation is carefully monitored but that he does not see any immediate risk of spreading to Sweden.
– I’m not worried. However, it is very important that we are observant and have a good readiness in case it starts to spread.