Risk Disclosed Regarding Possible Avian Influenza Transmission to Pigs Among Europeans
Alert Sounded on Avian Flu Risks in Europe
Worries about avian influenza strains are growing due to their rapid spread, mutations, and potential to leap from birds to pigs, posing a threat to humans. This assertion was made by Bernard Url, the executive director of the European Union's food safety agency (EFSA), in a Financial Times interview.
Url warns, "Avian flu is a unique case as it's increasingly infecting mammals." He underscores the urgency for Europe to stay on high alert to prevent the transmission of the virus to pigs.
In a previous report by The Conversation, it was pointed out that new avian flu strains could pose a significant danger. With the catastrophic impact of COVID-19 still fresh in people's minds, researchers are focusing on potential future global threats. Among the most worrisome infectious diseases, malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis top the list.
The current concern revolves around the quick spread of HPAI A(H5) variants throughout Europe. Between December 2024 and March 2025, 743 HPAI A(H5) cases were reported across 31 countries, primarily in central, western, and south-eastern Europe. Poland witnessed a steep rise, with 79 outbreaks, more than double their 2024 total, prompting emergency measures from the EU.
Wild birds, like mute swans and barnacle geese, are the primary carriers, posing a risk to outdoor poultry farms. Moreover, the viruses are mutating in ways that could make them more adaptable to mammals, even humans.
There's also a worrying rise in zoonotic risks, with 22 new human cases reported globally from December 2024 to March 2025. Strains like H5N6 in China have infected 50 people since mid-2024, with a 40-50% mortality rate. Human-to-human transmission remains rare, but the rapid evolution of these strains is cause for concern.
Swine, which are susceptible to both avian and human influenza, could potentially serve as mixing vessels for pandemic strains. Recent HPAI A(H5N1) detections in domestic cats and wild carnivores in Europe suggest a broader host range. The US's cattle-linked H5N1 genotype D1.1 further highlights unexpected mammalian transmission pathways.
Despite no large-scale pig outbreaks at present, enhanced surveillance is crucial to prevent a global health crisis. EFSA and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) recommend enhanced biosecurity measures for poultry, restricting outdoor access, and genomic surveillance to track mutations.
It's evident that the intermingling of avian outbreaks, mammalian spillovers, and potential pig-mediated reassortment necessitates proactive measures to prevent a catastrophe.
- Bernard Url, the executive director of the European Union's food safety agency (EFSA), has expressed concerns about the rapid spread of avian influenza strains, stating that avian flu is a unique case as it's increasingly infecting mammals.
- There's a rise in zoonotic risks associated with avian flu, with 22 new human cases reported globally from December 2024 to March 2025.
- Swine, which are susceptible to both avian and human influenza, could potentially serve as mixing vessels for pandemic strains, as recent HPAI A(H5N1) detections in domestic cats and wild carnivores in Europe suggest a broader host range.
- To prevent a global health crisis, enhanced surveillance, biosecurity measures for poultry, restricting outdoor access, and genomic surveillance to track mutations are recommended by EFSA and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), in the field of science dealing with medical-conditions and health-and-wellness.
