EU Issues Warning: Bird Flu Pandemic on the Horizon as Humans Lack Immune Defense

The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) warned on Wednesday (Apr. 3) that a large-scale bird flu pandemic is possible if the virus becomes transmissible between people, as humans lack immunity against the virus.

The warning came after the US state of Texas reported that the H5N1 strain of avian influenza - commonly known as bird flu - had been detected in a person who had contact with dairy cows presumed to be infected with the virus.

According to Reuters, the spread of bird flu is a concern for governments and the poultry industry due to the devastation it could cause to flocks and the risk of human transmission.

While the number of bird flu outbreaks has been lower so far this season, the geographical spread has been wider, even including Antarctica, as well as in an increasing number of mammals—including goats, cats, foxes, raccoons, skunks, polar and grizzly bears, and elephant seals—raising the risk of it evolving into a bigger threat to humans.

No human-to-human transmission has been observed, and bird flu transmissions from infected animals to humans are rare.

However, EFSA said that such viruses continue to evolve globally, and with the migration of wild birds, new strains carrying potential mutations for mammalian adaptation could be selected.

"If avian A(H5N1) influenza viruses acquire the ability to spread efficiently among humans, large‐scale transmission could occur due to the lack of immune defenses against H5 viruses in humans," the agency said in its report.

The World Health Organization said in its latest report that 887 cases of human infection with H5N1 avian influenza were reported globally between January 2003 and Feb. 26 this year. Of the figure, 462 were fatal, a 52% rate.

The majority of the human cases were detected in people with unprotected exposure to sick or dead poultry, live poultry markets, or a contaminated environment.

EFSA added that wild mammals could also act as bridge hosts between wild birds, domestic animals, humans, and even companion animals with access to the outdoors.

EFSA also called for enhanced surveillance for humans and animals, ensuring access to rapid diagnostics, promoting collaboration between the animal and human sectors, and implementing preventive measures such as vaccination.