|
2020–2025 H5N1 Outbreak
Since 2020, Global spread of H5N1, outbreaks of avian influenza Influenza A virus subtype H5N1, subtype H5N1 have been occurring, with cases reported from every continent except Australia as of February 2025. Some species of wild Water bird, aquatic birds act as natural asymptomatic carriers of a large variety of influenza A viruses, which can infect poultry, other bird species, mammals (including humans) if they come into close contact with infected feces or contaminated material, or by eating infected birds. In late 2023, H5N1 was discovered in the Antarctic for the first time, raising fears of imminent spread throughout the region, potentially leading to a "catastrophic breeding failure" among animals that had not previously been exposed to avian influenza viruses. The main virus involved in the global outbreak is as H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, genetic diversification of which with other clades (such as 2.3.2.1c) has seen an evolution in the ability to cause significant outbreaks in a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Global Spread Of H5N1
The global spread of H5N1 influenza in birds is considered a significant pandemic threat. While other H5N1 influenza strains are known, they are significantly different on a genetic level from a highly pathogenic, emergent strain of H5N1, which was able to achieve hitherto unprecedented global spread in 2008. The H5N1 strain is a fast-mutating, highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI) found in multiple bird species. It is both epizootic (an epidemic in non-humans) and panzootic (a disease affecting animals of many species especially over a wide area). Unless otherwise indicated, "H5N1" in this timeline refers to the 2008 highly pathogenic strain of H5N1. Tens of millions of birds have died of H5N1 influenza and hundreds of millions of birds have been slaughtered and disposed of, to limit the spread of H5N1. Countries that have reported one or more major highly pathogenic H5N1 outbreaks in birds (causing at least thousands but in some cases millions of dead birds) are (i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
