Topic

Bird flu virusesi

Avian influenza - more commonly known as bird flu - is a disease caused by the influenza A virus. It is adapted to birds, but capable of crossing over to human beings, with the H5N1 variant being probably the best known. In 2023, the H3N8 variant killed a woman in China - making her the first person to die of this strain.

Advertisement
  • Centre for Food Safety says it has instructed traders to suspend import of poultry meat and products from relevant areas with immediate effect
  • Outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza have occurred in several US counties, East Devon in Britain and Poland’s Goleniowski district

In addition to outbreaks in birds, seals and sea lions, officials have collected samples of dead porpoises and penguins found on beaches, with no confirmed results.

Advertisement
Advertisement

World Health Organization confirms death of 56-year-old patient in Guangdong province but stresses likelihood of human-to-human transmission remains low.

videocam

As bird flu hits more and varied animals, like at a mink farm in Spain, the fear is that the virus could evolve to spread more easily between people, and potentially trigger a pandemic.

videocam

The UN health body says the risk to humans is low ‘for the moment’, though the spillover to animals like foxes, sea lions and bears needs to be watched closely.

videocam

Acute shortages are the result of soaring feed prices caused by Ukraine war which forced many Malaysian farmers to cut output, but a new government subsidy is expected to aid recovery.

videocam

Zhong Nanshan, China’s top respiratory expert, among experts warning of parallel risks as pandemic measures, reduced immunity and chill affect public health.

videocam

The outbreak of the highly pathogenic H1N1 strain of avian flu was detected late December; around 500,000 chickens have since died of the disease or been culled.

Formally established in 1921, the Hong Kong branch of the SPCA has spent the past 100 years rescuing animals, neutering and fostering strays, and educating the public. It’s been an uphill struggle.

President and the head of US intelligence suggest Wuhan lab warrants investigation, while Chinese state newspaper asks US to explain a 2018 bird flu experiment.

videocam

The spread of bird flu types H5N1, H7N9 and H5N6 in China is closely connected to poultry trade networks rather than just wild bird migration, researchers have found.

Move to lift import ban on live poultry from the United States took effect on Friday, and comes after deadly H5N1 bird flu was found in chickens in two provinces in China.

videocam

Documentary series airing as China battles coronavirus outbreak warns a new flu pandemic is inevitable, and points out it is the country where ‘virtually all of the deadly influenza viruses’ of past 50 years have emerged.

videocam