Taking Action Against the Looming Pandemic Threat
As two cases of bird flu in humans emerge, urgent actions are required to proactively address a potential pandemic threat, as highlighted by Jaime M. Yassif.
Jaime M. Yassif, Ph.D., serves as the vice president of Global Biological Policy and Programs at the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing nuclear and biological threats worldwide. The opinions expressed in this article are her own. For more viewpoints, visit CNN.
Recent headlines have raised concerns: "Highly pathogenic avian influenza discovered in Texas, Kansas dairy cattle." "Bird flu detected in dairy worker." "First human case of avian flu in Texas sparks alarm." Could this signal the beginning of the next pandemic? US officials, however, are currently indicating that they believe the risk to the public from the latest bird flu strain is minimal.
Jaime M. Yassif
Jaime M. Yassif
Nuclear Threat Initiative
Many experts in the biosecurity and pandemic preparedness field are concerned about the possibility of the new bird flu spreading from mammals to humans. They believe that leaders in different countries should take action now to prevent this potential public health threat from escalating if the H5N1 flu virus starts spreading among humans.
There have been cases of bird flu transmission to people. Earlier this month, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed a second person in the US testing positive for bird flu. The first US human case of H5N1 was in 2022, involving a poultry worker in Colorado. A more recent case involved a dairy worker in Texas who had direct contact with infected cattle. Both cases had mild symptoms, were treated, and fully recovered. However, previous bird flu cases in other parts of the world have been more severe, causing fatalities in many instances. Scientists are concerned about the possibility of the virus evolving to spread more easily among human populations.
In March, the first case of the H5N1 virus in cattle was reported. While direct cow-to-cow transmission has not been confirmed, cases in cattle across at least six states suggest that cows may be passing the flu virus among themselves as they are transported to different farms, rather than being infected by sick birds.
White oblivious chickens waiting to be butchered, Elk Hart Lake, Wisconsin, USA
White oblivious chickens waiting to be butchered, Elk Hart Lake, Wisconsin, USA
Mike Roemer/Cavan Images RF/Getty Images
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Many scientists believe that increased government intervention is necessary to prevent bird flu from potentially becoming a pandemic. There is concern that the virus could follow a similar path to Covid-19, starting by spreading from animals to humans before evolving to spread directly between humans.
Governments worldwide, including the US, must treat H5N1 seriously and apply the lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic. It is crucial to take proactive measures to address this risk rather than adopting a passive "wait and see" approach.
In the immediate term, governments should take action to utilize their resources effectively in order to prevent the uncontrolled transmission of the H5N1 bird flu virus if it mutates to become transmissible among humans. This involves investing in research for vaccines that could combat the virus, enhancing surveillance of livestock and human populations, and developing comprehensive emergency response plans.
It is great news that the US Department of Health and Human Services is increasing surveillance efforts and backing the testing of potential vaccine candidates that could be more effective against this strain of bird flu compared to the limited stocks of H5N1 vaccine developed years ago.
In the future, it will be crucial for the human and animal health sectors, such as the CDC and the US Department of Agriculture, to collaborate on bio-surveillance. This includes developing a joint approach to monitoring human and animal populations and sharing data to track the evolution of the virus.
yipengge/iStockphoto/Getty Images
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To be prepared for a possible outbreak of bird flu, governments around the world need to take these steps now, even in the face of uncertainty. If they wait for a confirmed outbreak among people, it will be extremely difficult to prevent the uncontrolled spread of the virus.
Additionally, if the US government succeeds in identifying an effective vaccine for the new bird flu, it will be important to draw up plans to rapidly produce the vaccine, so that it is ready to go if needed. Further, the US and other governments should think through how to update and act on their existing pandemic flu response plans in case H5N1 begins to spread among humans.
It’s time to reconsider the long-term strategy and ensure that countries worldwide are equipped to detect and respond to future outbreaks. The Global Health Security Index highlights substantial deficiencies in countries' preparedness for pandemics.
The importance of capacity in saving lives was evident during the Covid pandemic. Research conducted by experts from the Brown University Pandemic Center, the Gates Foundation, and NTI showed that nations with robust pandemic preparedness had lower death rates compared to those with weaker capacities.
A scientist is conducting tests on a deceased seal on South Georgia Island in the South Atlantic Ocean. The purpose of the test is to check for avian influenza, a disease that has caused the deaths of millions of birds globally in recent years. This disease is now found in wildlife living near Antarctica. The image shows Dr. Marco Falchieri performing the tests.
A scientist tests a dead seal on South Georgia Island in the South Atlantic Ocean for avian influenza, a disease which has already killed millions of birds worldwide in recent years and is now present in wildlife living near Antarctica, December 2023. Dr. Marco Falchieri, APHA/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. MANDATORY CREDIT
Dr. Marco Falchieri/APHA/Handout/Reuters
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The UK reports that an unusual bird flu outbreak has now spread to mammals in the sub-Antarctic region.
Various measures have proven to be successful in combating the outbreak. These include disease detection systems, the distribution of medical countermeasures, and the public health infrastructure needed to implement non-pharmaceutical interventions.
Investing in pandemic preparedness now is crucial for ensuring that countries are equipped to handle a potential H5N1 outbreak or any future pandemics. It is concerning that despite the lessons learned from Covid-19, many national governments are not prioritizing the necessary resources for pandemic preparedness. This lack of investment just doesn't add up.
In the United States, federal funding for pandemic influenza falls short of what is needed to effectively address this threat. While experts have recommended $1.15 billion for pandemic influenza in 2025, the Biden administration has only requested $335 million. Additionally, Congress has made significant cuts to pandemic preparedness funding as part of the current appropriations process.
Internationally, many countries, even those with sufficient resources, have not invested financially in strengthening pandemic preparedness. According to the 2021 Global Health Security Index, developed by NTI, the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, and Economist Impact, 155 out of 195 countries have not allocated funds in the last three years to enhance their capacity for addressing epidemic threats, aside from during public health emergencies.
The White House recently introduced a new Global Health Security Strategy, which includes a commitment to collaborate with 50 countries to enhance pandemic preparedness capacity. While this is a positive step forward, it will be crucial for the US government and their partners to ensure they have the necessary financial resources and political determination to fulfill this promise.
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Supporting the World Bank Pandemic Fund is crucial for long-term pandemic preparedness in low- and middle-income countries. The fund has received $1.9 billion in pledged resources from various sources, but it is running out of funds. Experts suggest that at least $10 billion per year for five years is needed to help countries build infectious disease detection and response capacity to prevent future pandemics. We need to step up and do more.
The Covid pandemic has shown us how serious global health risks can be. Unfortunately, we have seen the deadly impact in many places. It is crucial for governments to take swift and decisive action to address the increasing threat of the H5N1 flu. At the same time, it is important to invest in long-term readiness to ensure that we are better equipped for future pandemics.
Editor's P/S:
The recent outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in mammals, particularly dairy cattle, has raised concerns about its potential to evolve and spread among humans. While current risk assessments indicate a minimal threat to the public, experts emphasize the need for proactive measures to prevent a potential pandemic. The article highlights the importance of government intervention, including increased surveillance, research into vaccines, and comprehensive emergency response plans. It also underscores the crucial role of collaboration between human and animal health sectors in monitoring virus evolution and implementing effective bio-surveillance.
Despite the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, the article expresses concern over the lack of prioritization and insufficient funding for pandemic preparedness globally. The article urges governments to invest in robust pandemic preparedness systems, including disease detection infrastructure, medical countermeasures, and public health infrastructure. It also calls for support for initiatives like the World Bank Pandemic Fund to strengthen pandemic preparedness capacity in low- and middle-income countries. By taking these proactive steps, countries can better protect their populations from the threat of emerging infectious diseases and mitigate the devastating impacts of future pandemics.
