Poultry On Lockdown As Bird Flu Spreads Across Europe and Asia
Coronavirus is still out here, but, now Bird Flu is trying to make a comeback!
Several outbreaks of severe bird flu in Europe and Asia have been reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health and the quick spread of the virus has forced poultry to be put on a lockdown.
The spread of avian influenza, also known as bird flu, has put poultry on lockdown as the virus can spread on to humans.
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According to the Guardian, “China’s Centre for Disease Control [CDC] identified several mutations in two recent H5N6 cases. The spread of the H5N6 virus is now a “serious threat” to the poultry industry and human health.”
“The zoonotic potential of AIVs [avian influenza viruses] warrants continuous, vigilant monitoring to avert further spillovers that could result in disastrous pandemics,” experts say.
Per the Food and Agriculture Organization,
“Avian influenza viruses are evolving into a large, diverse virus gene pool … A pathogen may turn into a hyper-virulent disease agent; in monocultures involving mass rearing of genetically identical animals that are selected for high feed conversion, an emerging hyper-virulent pathogen will rapidly spread within a flock or herd.”