WHO announcement on H5N1 Avian Flu

Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said risk to humans was low, but not to assume that will remain the case.

‘Over the past few weeks there have been several reports of mammals, including minks, otters, foxes and sea lions having been infected with H5N1 Avian Influenza. H5N1 has spread widely in wild birds and poultry for 25 years but the reasons for spillover to mammals needs to be monitored closely.

‘For the moment WHO assesses the risks to humans as low since H5N1 first emerged in 1996 we have only seen rare and non-sustained transmission of H5N1 to and between humans. But we cannot assume that will remain the case and we must prepare for any change in the status quo. As always, people are advised not to touch or collect dead or sick wild animals, but to report them to the local authorities.

‘WHO is working with national authorities and partners to monitor the situation closely and to study cases of H5N1 infection in humans when they occur.

‘WHO’s global laboratory network, the global influenza surveillance and response system, identifies and monitors strains of circulating influenza viruses and provides advice to countries on their risk to human health and available treatment or control measures. WHO recommends countries strengthen surveillance in settings where humans and farmed or wild animals interact. WHO is also continuing to engage with manufacturers to make sure if needed supplies of vaccines and antivirals will be available for global use.’

WHO's Tedros says "we must prepare" for a potential H5N1 human bird flu pandemic.
Source: https://t.co/NEkJ9GmqDD pic.twitter.com/HWz0xyToVT

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