To date, one case of human infection has been reported in the United States since the avian flu outbreak in millions of dairy cows across the country. At least 220 people are under observation and at least 30 have been tested.
“However, many more people have come into contact with infected animalsand it is important that all exposed people are tested or monitored and receive care if needed,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO), said at his regular press conference.
“So far, the virus shows no signs of adapting to spread in humans, but more surveillance is needed,” he urged.
Pasteurization kills viruses
The WHO head also said that although the virus has been detected in raw milk in the US, “Preliminary tests show that pasteurization can kill the virus”.
He emphasized: “WHO’s standing advice in all countries is that everyone should consume pasteurized milk.”
Pasteurization is the heat treatment of milk reduces the number of possible pathogenic microorganisms to the extent that they do not pose a significant health hazard. It also prolongs the shelf life of milk.
‘Low’ public health risk
Tedros also noted that based on available information, WHO continues to assess the public health risk from H5N1 avian influenza as low and low to moderate levels in people exposed to infected animals.
He added that the agency has a global influenza surveillance system through a network of centers in 130 countries, seven countries. cooperation center and 12 reference laboratory with capacity and biosafety requirements to deal with H5 virus.
“We have it too Framework for pandemic influenza preparedness to support rapid development and equitable distribution of vaccines in the event of an influenza pandemic,” he said.
spread of H5N1
In recent years, H5N1 has spread widely in wild birds, poultry, land and marine mammals, and now in dairy cows.
As of 2021, there have been 28 reported cases in humansalthough no person-to-person transmission has been documented.
The outbreak in the US has so far infected 36 dairy herds in 9 states.
