New York: A top official from the World Health Organization (WHO) cautioned on Tuesday about the potential spread of the H5N1 bird flu virus to cows in countries outside the United States, carried by migratory birds. Amidst the confirmation of the H5N1 virus in 34 dairy cattle herds across nine states since late March, along with one human case in Texas, U.S. authorities are actively working to verify the safety of milk and meat. Wenqing Zhang, head of WHO’s Global Influenza Programme, emphasized during a news briefing in Geneva that migratory birds carrying the virus globally heighten the risk of infection among cows in other nations.
While reiterating that the overall public health risk remains low, Zhang stressed the importance of remaining vigilant. When questioned about the transparency of the U.S. regarding the outbreak, Zhang commended the regular updates provided to the global body. She also lauded the decision to promptly share the genetic sequence of the virus. “I do think the collaboration with U.S. CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and the information we’ve received so far enables us to monitor the situation and to update the preparedness measures,” Zhang remarked.
