WHO Urges Bird Flu Surveillance After 1st U.S. Case

On Thursday, the World Health Organization (WHO) urged nations to strengthen bird flu monitoring following the detection of the first case in a child within the United States.

According to Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention director, there has been a small but increasing number of H5N1 avian influenza cases in humans globally. Addressing a press conference, she emphasized the need for comprehensive surveillance in animals, including wild birds, poultry, and other livestock animals such as swine and dairy cattle, to better understand how the virus circulates among them.

Since its initial emergence in 1996, H5N1 outbreaks in birds have surged significantly, particularly since 2020. The virus has not only devastated poultry populations but has also been found in wild birds and various land and marine mammals. Tens of millions of poultry have succumbed to the virus, and infections among marine animals and other wildlife are also being monitored.

Infections in humans, though rare, have mostly been mild. In March, cases were confirmed in several dairy herds across the United States. U.S. health officials have reassured the public that the risk of transmission to the general population remains low, although individuals in close contact with infected livestock animals, such as birds and dairy cattle, face a slightly higher risk.

Recently, a child in California became the first confirmed case of bird flu in the United States in 2024. Authorities conducted screenings and offered preventive treatment to individuals exposed at the child’s daycare. The child experienced mild symptoms and is recovering at home after receiving antiviral medication.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 55 human H5 infections have been documented in 2024, with 29 occurring in California. Most cases were linked to exposure to infected animals.

Van Kerkhove underscored the need for thorough investigations into each human case and called for enhanced testing, protective measures, and preventive strategies to reduce infection risks between species. Although there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission, she stressed the importance of vigilance to prepare for a potential influenza pandemic.

Read more: WHO