Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries via wlf.louisiana.gov
The first severe case of bird flu in a human in the U.S. has been confirmed in Louisiana, raising concerns about its implications for both animal and human health. Mark Mitchell, a professor from the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, says Bird flu, caused by avian influenza viruses, primarily affects birds but can occasionally jump to humans through direct contact with infected animals.
“We know that it can get into humans because there’s been 60 plus cases. The biggest concern is if a human can transmit it to another human.”
This cross-species transmission is relatively rare but can lead to severe illness in humans. Mitchell explains that close monitoring is essential to understand how the virus behaves and to prevent outbreaks.
“That’s why we want to minimize the risk of these things. I think its always really important that you prepare for these things. Again, for us we’ve been doing it for a number of years to prepare for it.”
While the immediate risk to the general public remains low, Mitchel says the case highlights the importance of being prepared, and public awareness to mitigate potential risks.
”There’s always that risk, and depending on who you talk to some people think the risk is greater for others. If you’re prepared for something, anything in life the better prepared you are the more likely you are to face that.”
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