2024-07-21 21:05:06
At the beginning of July, considerations about possible beginnings of a new pandemic were also heard from some Lithuanian epidemiologists. However, the National Public Health Center (NVSC) says that there is nothing to be alarmed at the moment, because people can only get infected with bird flu after coming into contact with animals that carry the virus.
“Bird flu is a viral disease of birds, (…) which mainly affects wild animals, primarily water birds, the virus can also infect cats, foxes, cattle, seals and other mammals. (…) Due to close contact with sick birds or animals, a person can also become infected with the virus”, Greta Gargasienė, advisor of the Infectious Diseases Management Department of the NVSC, is quoted in a comment sent to Elta.
According to NVSC, there are no registered cases of bird flu in Lithuania, at that time only a few isolated cases were registered in European countries among persons who had close contact with birds, i.e. were linked to holdings where cases of avian influenza among birds were recorded.
However, she does not hide that the situation could become more dangerous if, due to virus mutations, people can become infected with bird flu not only from animals, but also from people who are sick with it.
“In order for the influenza virus to cause epidemics or pandemics, the virus must begin to spread from person to person, i.e. cross the species barrier. So far, the spread between people has not been registered, but in reality the threat remains, so it is necessary to maintain vigilance”, said the specialist.
“Most types of bird flu do not cause illness in humans or cause only mild ailments such as fever or conjunctivitis. The symptoms are similar to the symptoms of colds, so an accurate diagnosis can only be established after finding out the possible circumstances of the infection and carrying out specific laboratory tests”, says NVSC representative G. Gargasienė.
Nevertheless, in order to protect oneself from this type of disease, constant prevention is necessary – to avoid direct close contact with dead and possibly infected animals or birds, not to go to places where dead wild animals or birds have been observed, G. Gargasienė notes. In addition, it is recommended not to touch sick or dead animals in general and to follow the instructions of health authorities in the area where bird flu outbreaks are registered.
According to the WHO, the situation of a person infected with bird flu in Mexico is unique in that it is the first laboratory-confirmed case of human infection with the A(H5N2) influenza virus reported worldwide. And while the source of the person’s infection with the virus in this case is not yet known, A(H5N2) viruses have been reported in poultry in Mexico.
In addition, it is announced that according to international legislation, human infection with a new subtype of the influenza A virus is an event that can have a significant impact on public health and must therefore be reported to the WHO.
In turn, based on the available information, the WHO assesses that the risk posed by this virus to the population is currently low.
GMC epidemiologist: monitoring needs to be strengthened
Speaking about the risks of a new pandemic at that time, Gytis Dudas, a researcher at the Biotechnology Institute of Vilnius University Life Sciences Center (VU GMC), also notes that the risks of a new pandemic are minimal for now. However, he recalls previous virus outbreaks and emphasizes that in order to prevent the spread of influenza, the first and most important tool is information about its spread. Therefore, the scientist emphasizes, it is necessary to monitor the monitoring of the cases recorded in other continents.
“The first and one of the most important lines of defense we have is always information, so strengthening the genomic monitoring of any pathogen is essential when we see a developing adverse situation.” (…) Mammalian infections with avian influenza viruses are nothing new in Europe and, given the situation with H5N1 influenza A viruses in US cattle, we should ask ourselves whether the monitoring systems we have are working well enough and monitoring everything that should be monitored to detect on farms viruses that have jumped over animals,” states G. Duda’s written comment to Elta.
“For example, in Lithuania, the answer to this question is an unequivocal “no”, because we saw how during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the State Food and Veterinary Service (VMVT) failed to detect at least two transmission chains of the virus, which circulated in fur farms over a year and then jumped back to humans,” the GMC scientist pointed out.
He stressed that there are currently no levers to affect influenza A or other viruses circulating in birds, so sequencing-based monitoring in both wild birds and farm animals remains the best way to see early signs of any virus jumps into other species and to organize the response accordingly where possible. something can be done.
European Center for Disease Prevention and Control on July 8. according to data, since 2003 until 2024 May 22 893 human cases have been registered worldwide, including 463 deaths, which is 52%. cases of avian influenza A(H5N1) in 24 countries, shared by NVSC.
in 2024 11 cases, including 2 deaths, were reported in four countries: Cambodia (7 cases, 1 death), USA (1 case), Vietnam (2 cases, 1 death), and Australia (1 case). However, no cases of human-to-human transmission of the virus have been identified so far, according to the NVSC.
Based on the insights of some US scientists, virologist Saulius Čaplinskas told LNK news this week that the latest research shows that there is not much left before a new mutation of the virus that can spread between people.
“Let’s remember – during the pandemic, the death rate from the coronavirus was 0.6 percent, and the death rate from this virus can reach from 25 to 50 percent. It is feared that this would not happen, so extensive monitoring is being carried out,” the virologist told LNK news.
2024-07-21 21:05:06