Avian Flu Endemic in Wild Birds Signals Year-Round Threat to Food Supply, Say Experts

Bird flu is developing into an outbreak among wild birds, which can then spread to domestic poultry, experts have warned.

The virus is now a problem throughout the entire year, and the fact that it continues to be prevalent in wild populations is an indication that record outbreaks may not end anytime soon on poultry farms, experts told Reuters.

Experts noted that outbreaks of the pathogen have continued in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, where they have not been eliminated by summer heat or winter cold. This is because a strain of the virus that was genetically similar to cases in Europe and Asia arrived in the United States in early 2022.

Avian Flu Threat to Global Food Supply

The spread of avian flu has already reached such a severe level that egg prices have hit all-time highs. As a result, many of the world's most impoverished people no longer have access to basic food that is also an inexpensive source of protein.

Gino Lorenzoni, an expert in poultry science and avian health at Pennsylvania State University, told CNBC that more than 40 million egg-laying hens had been culled in the United States alone, which has caused a dramatic increase in the price of eggs across the country.

Egg prices were at their highest during the holidays, according to ABCNews. This upset smaller grocery stores that could not compete with larger ones and caused restaurants and other small businesses to raise prices. Egg prices have gone up while most food prices have inflated a lot. This is hard on both grocery shoppers and small business owners.

The threat to the world's food supply is growing. Experts say farmers must now consider the disease a major hazard all year rather than focusing preventative efforts during wild bird migration seasons.

Is Bird Flu a Hazard to Humans?

According to scientists, viruses that cause avian flu typically do not infect humans. On the other hand, there have been isolated cases of human infection with bird flu viruses.

Earlier this February, World Health Organization (WHO) head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that although the risk to humans is low, "we cannot assume that will remain the case, and we must prepare for any change in the status quo."

"That's why we need to be very vigilant with the circulation of H5N1 in birds and now the infection in small mammals," the expert added.

The Guardian recently reported that the largest-ever bird flu outbreak had already spread to foxes and otters in the UK, with over 70 mammals having tested positive for the (HPAI) H5N1 virus. This is the virus that causes highly pathogenic avian influenza.

The Scottish Marine Animal Strandings Scheme also revealed that the test results from the inspection of the seal carcasses the agency received in the previous year had returned positive.

More About the Avian Flu

According to the CDC, the severity of avian flu virus infections in people has ranged from no symptoms or moderate sickness to severe disease leading to death.

Asian lineage H7N9 and highly pathogenic avian influenza Asian lineage H5N1 viruses have been liable for most human illnesses, from bird flu viruses worldwide to date.

Bird Flu Symptoms

Here is a list of the reported signs and symptoms of bird flu virus infections in humans, according to the CDC:

1. Mild illness
2. Eye redness (conjunctivitis)
3. Mild flu-like upper respiratory symptoms
4. Severe illness
5. Pneumonia requiring hospitalization
6. Fever (temperature of 100ºF [37.8ºC] or greater) or feeling feverish*
7. Cough
8. Sore throat
9. Runny or stuffy nose
10. Muscle or body aches
11. Headaches
12. Fatigue
13. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Less common signs and symptoms:

Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and seizures

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