The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed “strong concerns” about the potential for the avian flu virus (H5N1) to mutate and infect humans more easily. The frequency of outbreaks among birds is growing, heightening the risk of human transmission. The UN Food and Agriculture Agency (FAO) and the World Organization for Animal Health are urging global cooperation to safeguard both human and animal populations.
The H5N1 avian influenza virus was first identified in 1996 and has since caused multiple infectious outbreaks in birds. In 2020, a variant of the virus led to significant bird fatalities in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Last year, 67 countries across five continents reported cases, resulting in the death of 131 million domestic birds either from the disease or through culling.
Recent vaccine trials in France have shown promising results, particularly in protecting mulard ducks, which are bred for foie gras production. The French Ministry of Agriculture has deemed the results “very effective” and plans to launch a vaccination campaign in autumn 2023. The vaccines significantly reduced viral excretion in inoculated animals, minimizing both direct and indirect transmission.