Bird Flu Sparks Pandemic Concerns: Pasteur Institute Warns of Potential for Human Transmission
PARIS – The Pasteur Institute is raising alarms about the evolving threat of bird flu,warning of its potential to adapt and spread among mammals,and ultimately,humans. Anne Rameix-Welti,head of the institute’s influenza unit,voiced these concerns on Thursday,November 27th.
Unlike the common seasonal flu, people currently have no existing antibodies against the H5 bird flu strain, which impacts both birds and mammals, Rameix-Welti explained. This contrasts with Covid-19, which primarily posed a severe risk to vulnerable populations. Flu viruses, she cautioned, can cause fatalities even in healthy individuals.
The warning comes as hundreds of millions of birds have been culled globally in recent years due to the highly pathogenic avian influenza. While human infections remain rare, typically occurring through close contact with infected animals, a recent case in Washington state marked the first confirmed human infection with the H5N5 subtype this month. The infected individual, who had pre-existing health conditions, succumbed to the virus last week.
According to a World Health Association (WHO) report, between 2003 and 2025, nearly 1,000 human cases of bird flu were recorded, with a mortality rate of 48 percent.
Despite the concerns, Gregorio Torres, head of the science department at the World Organization for Animal Health, stated the risk of a human pandemic remains low. He emphasized that global preparedness has improved since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Rameix-Welti added that vaccine candidates and antiviral drug stockpiles are already in advancement and are expected to be effective against the bird flu virus.
The Institut pasteur was among the first European laboratories to develop tests for detecting Covid-19, positioning it at the forefront of pandemic response.
Sources: Reuters, Spiegel