Increase in Mammal Bird Flu Outbreaks Elevates Human Health Risks: New Report

Recent data indicates that bird flu outbreaks in mammals worldwide have more than doubled in the past year, raising increasing concerns about the potential for the virus to transmit to humans. An international agency highlighted that the number of mammal infections surged to 1,022 across 55 countries in 2024, compared to 459 cases in 2023. This significant rise is alarming because it signals a change in the virus's epidemiology, possibly increasing the risk of adaptation for human transmission.

The spread of avian influenza has been unprecedented in recent years, leading to mass poultry culling, soaring egg prices, and fatalities among humans in contact with infected animals. Although the overall risk to humans remains low, the growing number of infections among animals such as cattle, dogs, and cats heightens the possibility that the virus might mutate further to enable human-to-human transmission.

The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) emphasized the pandemic potential of this situation and described bird flu as a matter of global urgency, impacting agriculture, food security, trade, and ecosystems. Over the past two decades, more than 630 million birds have died due to the disease or been culled, with wild bird populations also experiencing significant die-offs, although exact figures are unknown.

Vaccination efforts, such as France’s poultry vaccination programs, have shown promising results in reducing outbreaks. For instance, France initially projected 700 outbreaks in 2023 but recorded only 10, thanks to proactive vaccination strategies. Experts consider vaccination a critical tool alongside biosecurity measures, surveillance, transparency, and international collaboration.

Recent human cases include Mexico’s first death in a three-year-old girl, along with fatalities in the US and Cambodia. While nearly 50% of bird flu infections have historically been fatal, most human cases are linked to direct contact with infected birds or contaminated environments.

Climate change and environmental shifts are also contributing to the increased spillover risk, as animals are pushed into new regions, potentially facilitating the transmission of infectious diseases. The WOAH warns that about 70% of emerging zoonotic diseases over the past two decades could pose threats to human health.

Additionally, concerns about antibiotic resistance are mounting, with a significant decline in antibiotic use in animals (5% globally between 2020 and 2022), especially in Europe where usage dropped by 23%. This reduction is vital in controlling resistant pathogens.

In summary, the surge in mammal bird flu cases underscores the urgent need for enhanced surveillance, vaccination programs, and international cooperation to mitigate the escalating threat to global health and ecosystem stability.