The WHO is closely monitoring the evolution of the H5N1 virus, fearing that it may adapt to be transmitted between humans. Although cases of human transmission are rare, incidents have been reported in Texas and Cambodia.
Jeremy Farrar, chief scientist of the United Nations health agency, expressed his concern at a press conference in Geneva. He noted that H5N1, which is fatal in people in contact with infected animals, could evolve to be transmitted between humans, although there is no evidence yet of this transmission. Between 2023 and April 2024, the WHO recorded 889 human cases of avian flu in 23 countries, including 463 deaths, representing a case fatality rate of 52%.
Jeremy Farrar stressed the importance of understanding the number of undetected human infections, as this is where the virus could adapt. He concluded by saying that if one person infected with H5N1 transmits the virus to another, a cycle of transmission could begin, emphasizing that current surveillance systems are never enough.
 Sophie de Duiéry
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18/04/2024 | 
