Experts not ruling out pandemic risk for H5N1 avian influenza virus

The H5N1 influenza A virus, which normally only infects birds, began infecting dairy cows across the U.S. in March and later infected dozens of ranch workers. Since then, human cases of H5N1 have continuously increased, and experts are not ruling out the possibility of another pandemic.

Dr. Hwang Kao-pin (黃高彬), deputy director of China Medical University Hospital’s Infectious Disease Control Center, said in an interview on Thursday that human cases of H5N1 have been observed in Hong Kong from as early as 1997. With a mortality rate of about 33%, H5N1 is especially dangerous, Hwang said, and the recent increase in the number of cases indicates the virus has evolved a higher affinity for human cells. The extent of this affinity, however, requires further research. Regardless, with cases increasing throughout the U.S. and beginning to appear in other countries around the world, he stressed the importance of remaining vigilant.

Hwang said that as it is less common for people in Taiwan to eat freshly slaughtered chickens compared to Hong Kong, the risk of contact with infected poultry is lower. As it is still possible for poultry to carry the virus, he urges the public to wear masks if they must visit poultry farms and to wash their hands frequently to reduce the risk of infection.