After the COVID-19 pandemic shook the whole world, global health authorities are actively preparing for new outbreaks of infections that may pose a serious threat to humanity. Malaria, HIV and tuberculosis are among the biggest challenges facing health authorities. These diseases claim more than 2 million lives annually and continue to cause concern in society.
However, influenza A virus of subtype H5N1, known as "bird flu", is attracting special attention today. The virus has long been found in wild and domestic birds such as chickens, but has recently been reported in dairy cattle in the United States and horses in Mongolia. Therefore, medical authorities again began to pay attention to the danger of transmitting the virus to humans.
In 2023, there were 61 cases of bird flu in the United States, a significant increase from previous years. At the same time, mortality from this virus among people is up to 30%, which makes H5N1 a serious threat to public health. Although the virus is not currently transmitted from person to person, studies have shown that a single mutation could change this situation, allowing the virus to spread among people and become the source of a new pandemic.
Given the risk, the UK government has already bought 5 million doses of bird flu vaccine in preparation for possible threats in 2025. This step is part of a general strategy aimed at preparing for a pandemic, as well as preventing possible socio-economic consequences from the spread of the virus among animals.
Even if the H5N1 flu is not capable of being transmitted between humans, its impact on animal health, the economy, and the food supply is already being felt. Therefore, preparation for such threats is extremely important.
These challenges support the concept of "one health", which emphasizes the importance of the relationship between the health of people, animals and the environment. Only through the study of these connections and timely response to new threats will humanity be able to effectively combat infectious diseases in the future.
The spread of viruses such as H5N1 forces the global community to mobilize and be prepared for any scenario. Therefore, it is important not only to carry out vaccination and actively monitor the situation, but also to strengthen international cooperation in the fight against infections that can become a threat to global security.
