Bird Flu Situation ‘Worrying’; WHO Working With Cambodia | Health

The World Health Organization is working with Cambodian authorities after two confirmed cases of H5N1 bird flu were found among one family in the country.

Describing the situation as “worrying” due to the increase in cases of birds and mammals, Dr. Sylvie Briand, director of preparedness and prevention of epidemics and pandemics, told journalists in a virtual briefing that the WHO is reviewing the global risk assessment in brief. new developments.

The UN health agency finally assessed the risk to humans from bird flu to be lower this month.

Cambodian authorities on Thursday reported the death of an 11-year-old girl from H5N1, and began testing 12 of her contacts. His father, who is suffering from symptoms, has also tested positive for the virus.

“The global H5N1 situation is worrying because of the spread of the virus in birds around the world and the increasing number of case reports in mammals including humans,” said Briand. “WHO takes the risk from this virus very seriously and calls for increased vigilance from all countries.”

Briand said it was not clear whether there was human-to-human transmission, which is the main reason for the focus on the case in Cambodia, or if the two cases were due to “similar environmental conditions,” the possibility of close contact. with infected birds or other animals.

A new strain of H5N1, clade 2.3.4.4b, appeared in 2020 and has caused a record number of deaths among wild birds and domestic poultry in a few months. It has also infected mammals, raising global concerns.

However, unlike previous H5N1 outbreaks, which have been around for more than two decades, this subtype has not caused significant disease in humans. So far, only about half a dozen cases have been reported to the WHO in people who have had close contact with infected birds, and most of them are mild. Experts suggest that the virus must be mutated in order to transmit it to humans.

However, the WHO said it was conducting preparedness efforts, and noted that it has antivirals available, as well as 20 licensed pandemic vaccines in case the situation changes, although it will need to be updated to better match the circulating H5N1 strain if necessary. .

This could take four to five months, said Richard Webby, director of the WHO Collaborating Center for Studies on the Ecology of Influenza in Animals and Birds at the Children’s Hospital of St. Jude. However, some stored vaccines will be available in the meantime.

The WHO-affiliated laboratory already has two strains of the flu virus related to the H5N1 virus in circulation, which manufacturers can use to develop new shots if necessary. A global meeting of flu experts this week recommended developing another strain that better matches the H5N1 2.3.4.4b clade, Webby said in the briefing.