Since February of this year, the H5N1 virus has wreaked havoc on American farms: 52.7 million birds have died. Experts note that even in the summer, when the contagion is lower, it has not led to an exit from the epidemic, reports Courrier international.
The United States is experiencing an unprecedented avian crisis due to a highly contagious flu virus that has already decimated 52.7 million birds, reports National Public Radio (NPR), which also says the epidemic has affected 46 states , being the worst avian flu epidemic in US history.
Started in February this year, when the first cases of H5N1 were detected, this epidemic surpasses that of 2014-2015, which killed 50 million birds. The current epidemic persisted into the summer and a new wave is now being observed.
Low risk of transmission to humans
What has not been observed during previous epidemics, which did not extend into the cold season. “I hope this situation doesn’t happen again,” Richard Webby, a virologist and director of WHO’s Avian Pathology Research Center, told NPR.
Another big difference compared to previous epidemics: the transmission starts from wild birds and not from contacts between farmed birds.
It is important to underline that the risk of transmission of the virus to humans is very small.
Richard Webby says the devastation wrought by this virus has also been magnified by the fact that pet birds’ immune systems are completely unprepared to fight off this pathogen.
According to Professor Amy Hagerman of Oklahoma State University, laying birds are most affected by this virus. Obviously, under these conditions, the price of eggs in the US could explode.
