Although popularly known as avian influenza, the H5N1 virus can infect other animals, including mammals. This is what the World Organization for Animal Health (OMSA) warns in a statement released this month. The entity reinforces that, even if unusual, the disease can affect humans.

In the material, OMSA reports that avian influenza has been spreading to several countries since October 2021. The organization points out, in this sense, that it has followed "an unprecedented number of outbreaks" and that, consequently, seeing "devastating effects" on animal health and welfare.

The international entity also mentions that despite mainly reaching wild birds, the advance of the disease can cause other problems. One of them, for example, is to increase food insecurity across the planet. And, moreover, hinder the work of rural producers.

"The disease jeopardizes global food security and the livelihood of aviculture-dependent patients," whoa said. "[The virus] also led to an alarming mortality rate of wild birds and affected other wildlife, including marine and terrestrial mammals."

Reports of avian influenza in mammals

According to the same whoa communiqué, the avian influenza virus is, even if occasionally, transmitted to mammals, including humans. According to the entity, an increasing number of cases of Avian Influenza H5N1 have been reported in "several terrestrial and aquatic mammals, causing morbidity and mortality".  "This raises growing concern about the threat to the health of domestic and wild animals, biodiversity and potentially public health," the organization emphasizes. Last month, as reported by Canal Rural, the disease was identified even in grizzly bears in the United States.

"In addition, some mammals, such as mink, can act as mixing receptors for different influenza viruses, leading to the emergence of new strains and subtypes that may be more harmful to animals and/or humans," he warns. "Recently reported infections in breeding minsoons are a concern because infections of a large number of mammals kept close to each other exacerbate this risk."

WHOA Guidelines on The Disease

With the possibility of the avian influenza virus spreading beyond poultry and wild birds, OMSA lists six actions to be taken against the spread of the disease:

1 - Prevention

Prevent the spread of the disease by implementing strict biosafety measures on poultry farms. In particular, intensify the biosecurity around the mummies farms to prevent the introduction of the virus.

2 - Motion control

Control the movements of susceptible domestic animals and their products to prevent the spread of diseases.

3 - Human protection

Protect humans in close contact or handling sick poultry or wild birds. Exposed persons should always take precautionary measures, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), especially when investigating deaths or outbreaks.

4 - Monitoring

Monitor susceptible domestic and wild animals. Investigate any unusual increase in wildlife mortality events.

5 - Notification

Notify cases of avian influenza in all species to OMSA in accordance with international standards. Timely and transparent communication is essential to maintain a good knowledge of the situation of the disease and avoid any kind of misinformation or misinformation.

6 - Sharing

Sharing genetic sequences of avian influenza viruses into publicly available databases.

Source: Canal Rural