Watchful eye should be kept on bird flu

Europe has experienced its worst bird flu ever this year with nearly 50 million poultry culled, and the persistence of the highly pathogenic avian influenza over the summer has raised the risk of widespread infections next season, the European Union's Food Safety Agency said.

The spread of bird flu is a concern for governments due to the possibility of trade restrictions and the risk of human transmission.

The H1N1 bird flu pandemic began in the United States in early 2009. Since then, the H1N1 pandemic has rapidly spread to 214 countries and regions. The World Health Organization puts the total number of people infected worldwide at between 700 million and 1.4 billion, with an estimated 18,500 confirmed deaths, though it says the real death toll is likely between 150,000 and 575,000.

Of course, not all forms of bird flu are fatal to humans, it depends on the strain. It now appears, the avian influenza outbreak in Europe is caused by H5N1, and the Canadian Federal Food Inspection Agency has notified the World Organization for Animal Health it has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in its territory.

Worldwide, 863 cases of human infection with H5N1 avian influenza have been reported in 18 countries and regions between January 2003 and March 31, 2022, including 455 deaths, according to the WHO.

The Chinese health department should intensify its communication with the WHO and closely monitor the avian influenza and other avian influenza viruses, so that the country can timely assess the risk of avian influenza and provide the nation with customized prevention and control methods.

Agriculture, forestry and health authorities should strengthen their monitoring of migratory birds, which are often the real source of the spread of the virus. Rather than large-scale intensive livestock and poultry farms, 60 percent of the poultry industry in China is free range, which is vulnerable to the spread of the disease.

The flu vaccine in China can also help boost immunity against a possible wave of bird flu that could spread from Europe. Caution is needed to the outbreak of the bird flu in Europe, but not panic.