Alarm Raised Over Failing Bird Flu Control Strategies: Silent Spread to Humans Feared

A disturbing study by The Pirbright Institute reveals that global efforts to control bird flu are failing, with evidence of sustained mammal-to-mammal transmission, potentially putting humans at risk.

Key Findings:

1. Current control strategies inadequate to prevent spread.
2. Sustained transmission between mammals detected.
3. Evolutionary pathways to human pandemic virus identified.
4. Gaps in control mechanisms and surveillance.

Expert Insights:

“Influenza A viruses have caused more documented global pandemics… New evolutionary pathways have opened.” – Dr. Thomas Peacock

Control Challenges:

1. Reluctance to adopt modern vaccine and surveillance technologies.
2. Insufficient data collection on transmission between cows and humans.
3. Limited testing criteria.

Silent Spread and Evolutionary Mechanisms:

1. Genomic reassortment drives global panzootic outbreak.
2. Unseen chains of transmission may spread undetected.

Turning Point for HPAI in the West:

1. H5N1 becoming continually present in Europe and Americas.
2. Need for new control strategies, including vaccination.

Assessing Pandemic Impact:

1. Severity of potential H5N1 pandemic unclear.
2. Older people may have partial immunity.
3. Younger people born since 1968 H3N2 pandemic may be more vulnerable.

Call to Action:

1. Urgent review of global control strategies.
2. Adoption of modern vaccine and surveillance technologies.
3. Enhanced data collection and testing.

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