Proliferation of bird flu outbreaks raises risk of human pandemic


  • World
  • Thursday, 26 Jan 2017

A laboratory worker carries out an autopsy on dead wild geese, looking for evidence of the bird flu virus, in the laboratory of the Hungarian national food safety authority in Budapest, on January 24, 2017. Picture taken January 24, 2017. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh

LONDON, Jan 26 (Reuters) - The global spread of bird flu and the number of viral strains currently circulating and causing infections have reached unprecedented levels, raising the risk of a potential human outbreak, according to disease experts.

Multiple outbreaks have been reported in poultry farms and wild flocks across Europe, Africa and Asia in the past three months. While most involve strains that are currently low risk for human health, the sheer number of different types, and their presence in so many parts of the world at the same time, increases the risk of viruses mixing and mutating - and possibly jumping to people.

Limited time offer:
Just RM5 per month.

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month
RM5/month

Billed as RM5/month for the 1st 6 months then RM13.90 thereafters.

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month

Billed as RM148.00/year

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In World

'Lucky to have him': Australia mourns refugee guard killed in Bondi attack
Trump ready to renew conservative alliance with Hungary's Orban
Kenya Airways accuses Congo of harassment over detained staff
Inside Big Tech’s underground race to buy AI training data
Ireland says UK's Rwanda policy drives migrants over its border
Somalia detains U.S.-trained commandos over theft of rations
A Chinese firm is America’s favourite drone maker – except in Washington
Smaller towns in South Korea bear brunt of doctors’ shortage
Spain to send Patriot missiles to Ukraine, El Pais reports
Swiss parliamentary committee backs $5.5 billion aid plan for Ukraine

Others Also Read