According to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), a new wave of bird flu, which spread to Europe and Asia, was announced with a higher rate of spread to humans. The OIE, along with governments and the poultry industry, is concerned that there are multiple variants of this avian flu wave.
Previously, tens of millions of birds have been killed and trade restrictions have been imposed following bird flu outbreaks, according to The Mirror.
“MORE VARIANTS APPEARED”
Monique Eloit, Managing Director of OIE, said: “This time the situation is more difficult and riskier because we are seeing more variants emerging, which makes them harder to follow. The risk of it mutating or being mixed with a human flu virus that can be transmitted between humans and then suddenly taking on a new dimension. increases,” he said.
Outbreaks usually begin in the fall, when the infection is spread by migratory birds. 15 countries reported outbreaks of bird flu in poultry between October and late December. These were mostly the H5N1 strain, which is one of the few types of bird flu that is transmitted to humans.
FOUR MILLION BIRDS EATED
According to OIE data, Italy was the worst-affected country in Europe with 285 epidemics and the culling of nearly four million birds. It was reported last month that the UK is facing its biggest ever avian flu epidemic. However, according to public health recommendations, the risk to human health and food safety of bird flu is very low.