New Delhi: In May last year, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an end to COVID-19 as a global health emergency, but in no time, other viruses such as bird flu and Mpox started to spread in various parts of the globe. The dangers of bird flu also known as H5N1 virus continues to be a significant threat in the United States. Recently, health officials have detected the first human case of bird flu in a patient from Missouri who had no contact with infected animals.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the patients have been hospitalised and have recovered but not all of them were in contact with the poultry or animals. Surprisingly, this is the 14th human case of bird flu in the US this year, while other than these all the cases were somehow associated with the contact of animals, noted CDC. This incident shows that the virus that was initially found in only animals has now started spreading to human beings.
Noticing the rise in cases, scientists are highly concerned about the zoonotic diseases after the COVID-19 pandemic. According to some studies, this is majorly happening due to a major shift in climatic conditions.
What is zoonosis?
The theory of animal-to-human transmission is called zoonosis and the diseases spread via this are called zoonotic diseases. Bird flu virus is an infection that does not usually infect people, but in very rare cases human transmission occurs. Avian influenza A(H7N9) virus and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A (H5N1) viruses have been the major cause of human diseases from avian influenza viruses being reported worldwide to date.
These infections are triggered by pathogens—bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites—that can transfer from animals to humans through close contact. But how does this transmission occur?
Can zoonotic viruses jump from animals to humans?
While speaking to News9, Dr Nasiruddin G said, “Viruses are spreading from animals to humans, a phenomenon known as zoonosis, due to various factors such as deforestation, climate change, and human-animal interaction. As natural habitats are destroyed, animals are forced to adapt to new environments, increasing the likelihood of contact with humans. Climate change also facilitates the spread of viruses by altering ecosystems and allowing disease-carrying insects to thrive. Moreover, the increasing demand for animal products and human-animal interaction in settings like markets and farms create opportunities for viruses to jump from animals to humans.”
“This poses significant dangers, including the risk of pandemics, as seen with COVID-19, which originated from an animal source. Zoonotic diseases can be highly infectious and deadly, and may also lead to antimicrobial resistance, making treatment challenging,” added Dr Dr Nasiruddin.
Furthermore, the rise of zoonotic diseases threatens global health security, economic stability, and human well-being, emphasising the need for enhanced surveillance, research, and collaboration between human and animal health sectors to mitigate these risks.
Recently, health officials have detected the first human case of bird flu in a patient from Missouri who had no contact with infected animals. Surprisingly, this is the 14th human case of bird flu in the US this year, while other than these all the cases were somehow associated with the contact of animals, noted CDC. This incident shows that the virus that was initially found in only animals has now started spreading to human beings. Health Conditions Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
