Miscellaneous
Bird Flu
A casualty was observed in Andhra Pradesh from bird flu virus marking India’s second recorded human fatality from H5N1 since 2021.
About Bird flu
Bird flu, or avian influenza, is a highly contagious viral disease that affects both wild and domestic birds.
It is caused by avian influenza A viruses, with subtypes such as H5N1 and H5N8 being particularly significant.
Transmission: H5N1 spreads primarily through direct contact with infected live or dead birds or contaminated environments (e.g., live bird markets).
Rarely, transmission from infected mammals to humans has been observed. Though human infections are rare, H5N1 has a high fatality rate (~60%), much higher than the peak fatality of Covid-19 (~3%). Also, airborne transmission has not been confirmed in humans.
Human-to-human transmission remains extremely rare. The virus continues to evolve, and if it mutates to allow sustained human-to-human transmission, it could trigger a global pandemic.
Hence, H5N1 is listed as a priority disease under WHO R&D Blueprint.
Treatment: Antiviral drugs like oseltamivir are effective, especially when administered early in high-risk or severe cases.
Vaccination: Current seasonal flu vaccines do not protect against H5N1.
✓ Some countries have developed H5N1-specific vaccines for emergency use.
