H5N1 flu '100 times' more dangerous than Covid-19, warns researchers. Here is what expert says

After COVID-19, the world is facing a new threat in the form of H5N1 virus. Recently, experts raised concerns over the potential rapid spread of the bird flu pandemic. The increasing bird flu cases may lead to an exceptionally high fatality rate and can be “100 times worse than the Covid pandemic”.

The Daily Mail report also revealed that experts raised concerns over the threat of a new pandemic during a recent briefing. This report came out after outbreaks of avian flu were reported in a poultry facility in Michigan and an egg producer in Texas. Reports have also surfaced of dairy cows contracting bird flu. There were also reports of a human getting the virus from a mammal.

What have the doctors said?

According to reports, doctors have warned during the briefing that H5N1 flu can cause a pandemic due to its ability to infect a wide range of mammals, including humans. “We are getting dangerously close to this virus potentially causing a pandemic. We are not really talking about a virus that is yet to make a jump, we are talking about a virus that is globally present, already infecting a range of mammals and is circulating… It is really high time that we are prepared,” Dr Kuchipudi, prominent bird flu researcher, said during the briefing, according to Times of India.

WHO data, a reason for concern

World Health Organization (WHO) data shows that 52 out of every 100 patients infected with H5N1 virus have died since 2003, making its fatality rate over 50 per cent.

Meanwhile, the current Covid fatality rate is 0.1 per cent. When the pandemic began, the fatality rate was 20 per cent.

What does the expert say?

Speaking exclusively to Editorji, Dr. Venkat Ramesh, Infectious disease expert, Apollo Hyderabad said, "It is just too early to say whether this is going to translate into anything significant or it would die down. But we should be alert and there is really no need to panic or to do anything major. The authorities will make us aware if there is really a cause of concern. As of now there is potential that it will escalate but it hasn't yet reached a stage where we need to worry or it is at our doorstep."

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