Avian flu | Is Avian Influenza the Next Pandemic?: The widespread outbreak of avian influenza is causing a significant population decrease among domestic poultry and wild birds across the world, raising concerns about the potential for the next human pandemic.
Is the Avian Influenza the Next Pandemic?
Recently, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization prompted a warning on 8th February 2023, saying that we must prepare for the possibility of a bird-flu pandemic. There were many concerns that it may also pose a risk to humans because of the current avian influenza outbreak which affects domestic poultry and wild birds.
Is the Avian Influenza Dangerous?
While killing the animals which are contaminated and potentially immunizing some domestic bird populations, it may help to stop the outbreak, it is not a simple task to stop the evolution of viruses like COVID-19 or influenza. Yet, despite the seemingly low risk for the man kind, the signs of avian flu are alarming enough to warrant preparation for a potential worst-case scenario.
Spread for Mammal to Mammal
The mammal-to-mammal transmission would be rare as believed.
- The present Avian flu can not elicit the strong human immune system
- Most of the vaccines are produced using an outdated method which involves incubating the vaccine in chicken eggs.
Avian flu | MCQs
As per the article, what is the major concern about avian influenza?
a. The difficulty of containing the virus.
b. The outdated method of producing vaccines.
c. The risk of human infection.
d. The decrease in the wild bird population.
Ans: C
What did World Health Organization warned about on 8th February 2023?
a. The difficulty of containing the virus.
b. The need for updated vaccine production methods.
c. To prepare for a possible bird-flu pandemic.
d. The decline in domestic bird populations.
Ans: C
What has been suggested for containing the avian influenza outbreak?
a. Waiting for the virus to naturally die out.
b. Producing new vaccines using updated methods.
c. Isolating infected birds and quarantining them.
d. To Kill contaminated animals and immunize domestic bird populations.
Ans: D