Surge in EU Bird Flu Cases Sparks Human Transmission Concerns

The European Union (EU) is facing a surge in bird flu outbreaks, with 62 cases reported since August compared to just seven last year, according to the World Organization for Animal Health. This dramatic increase has raised serious concerns about the potential for human transmission of the virus, especially in light of ongoing infections among U.S. dairy herds and in human populations working in commercial egg farms.

Among the countries affected by the recent bird flu outbreaks, Hungary and Poland have recorded the highest numbers of cases. Poland alone has reported the culling of 1.8 million birds, including 1.4 million from a single farm in Sroda Wielkopolska. 

In response to this crisis, France, which experienced significant losses in the 2022/23 season, has implemented increased biosecurity precautions around poultry farms as of October. These precautions aim to counteract the impact of rising cases in neighboring countries. According to Yann Nedelec, director of the French poultry group Anvol, the current conditions are “more worrying” compared to 2023, reports Reuters. 

The ongoing spread of the bird flu virus has raised global concerns about potential human transmission, particularly as it has recently affected nearly 400 US dairy herds and been detected in 36 individuals. Among these cases, US officials confirmed that four infected individuals had been working at a commercial egg farm, highlighting the direct link between poultry and human health risks. 

This situation is compounded by the ongoing risk of mutation which could enable the virus to transmit more easily between humans. Scott Hensley, a microbiology professor at the University of Pennsylvania, described the situation as a “pandemic unfolding in slow motion,” as reported by MBN. 

This concern is further underscored by the World Health Organization's confirmation of the first human death from the H5N2 bird flu strain in Mexico in June. A 59-year-old man succumbed to the virus in April in Mexico City after exhibiting symptoms of fever, shortness of breath, and nausea. This incident has intensified scientists' concerns about the potential for a bird flu pandemic.