Humanity is facing the most serious animal disease in history – an epidemic in the animal kingdom. The H5N1 virus that causes avian influenza has infected more than 600,000 wild birds of 400 different species in the past two years, and at least 450 million poultry have been slaughtered. Trying to stop its progress. When the likelihood of an avian flu epidemic increases, concerns increase. Pathogen transfer to mammalsthere are two particularly worrying events: one, a severe disease outbreak at a fur farm with 50,000 American mink in the Galician town of Carral, Spain; Massive die-off of marine mammals in South America. For example, on the Patagonian coast of Argentina, 97% of elephant seal calves born this year died from bird flu.
Pathogen it already exists on all continents Oceania (including Antarctica) has less.While it has grabbed a lot of headlines over the past year, the fact that there have only been a handful of human cases – the latest in a child under 3 years old in Cambodia – has downgraded it to “Minor” issues. But experts warn we should worry: Tragedy can happen anytime, anywhere. “H5N1 is getting closer and closer to us, giving us more warning signals.” microbiologist explains Ignacio Lopez-Goni. “There are already vaccines available for poultry, but a universal vaccine for humans has not yet been developed, although various advanced studies are underway.”
Leap to Humanity
Given the strong spread of the virus among wild birds and mammals around the world, The risk of jumping to humans is increasing. In this context What measures should be taken urgently? “First, avoid the following: The risks are very high, such as on fur farms. Mustelids are a species highly susceptible to human respiratory viruses, and there have been multiple COVID-19 outbreaks on mink farms around the world.The solution is to take Take tougher measures against such exploitation. Also strongly recommended People who have been in contact with minks, birds, pigs, etc.Get seasonal flu vaccine every year.Although the vaccine cannot prevent avian influenza, it at least “Preventing mixed infections in these susceptible animals,” Veterinary doctors and science communicators explain Elisa Perez Ramirez. “Needs improvement Monitor wild birds, “They are the ones who spread the message and take it from one place to another,” he added.
Some wild birds carry the virus in their respiratory or digestive tracts but do not develop the disease, allowing them to spread the virus over long distances in their bodies. migration routes.Various research groups have identified The large-scale spread of the virus among wild birds has doubled its spread, Therefore, there is a greater risk of genetic recombination, creating mutations that favor their adhesion to human cells.
“One Health” strategy
this investigation This is another tool that could help us better deal with this virus, but unfortunately, Currently, not enough funding and effort is devoted to implementing One Health strategies. This concept proposes a comprehensive approach to health from three interrelated areas: human health, animal health and the environment.
Lopez Goñi and Pérez-Ramírez and Gorka Orive, Professor of Pharmacy at the University of the Basque Country, They recently published a book under this title: global health (Penguin Random House) They explain how everything is interconnected (human, animal and environmental health) and how to successfully tackle the big challenges we face – future pandemics, antibiotic resistance, new viruses, zoonoses sick…… Applying the One Health strategy is both urgent and necessary.
“Human health is still considered a closed sector. Even at the academic level, there are no courses that delve into the interrelationships between human health, animal health and the environment, so maybe this is a good place to start,” explains Orive.There is growing evidence that The environment we live in and the air we breathe affect our health. According to an article published in this week’s magazine PLOS ClimateClimate change could shorten life expectancy by half a year. Specifically, the findings from the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (Bangladesh) and the New School for Social Research (USA) show that, taken in isolation, a 1°C rise in global temperatures is associated with an average shortening of human lifespan of about 5 months and zero. 1 week.
“About 7 million people die prematurely every year from breathing polluted air. In addition, there are many morbidities. Suspended particles smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) have even been found to be linked to lung cancer (in people with a genetic predisposition) There is a relationship between occurrence,” the pharmacy professor emphasized.