In an article recently published in Nature, the authors raised concerns that avian influenza (H5N1) has become transmissible from birds and animals to humans and between humans at an unprecedented level. They found that, for the first time, bovine H5N1 binds to both avian-like and human-like sialic acid receptors. In other words, the current strain can potentially become the next pandemic threat to humans.
Despite that potential, it is not inevitable that H5N1 will develop into a pandemic — if we act now. Unfortunately, instead of urgent action, we have seen only delayed reactions.
For example, the best way to track this virus is through dairy herd and poultry flock testing and reporting. Unfortunately, that testing is voluntary. Consequently, it only happens at an anemic and far less effective pace. Additionally, we believe testing dairy and poultry farm workers must be more stringently encouraged.
It is crucial that we do not continue with a passive, wait-and-see approach, as it is bound to fail. Instead, we must proactively advance a public-private partnership to act now, leveraging public resources, private technology, and brainpower.
This article identifies key weaknesses in our current approach to pandemic preparedness and presents specific actions that policy makers in the United States and around the globe can take to address those weaknesses.
To read the entire article on Health Affairs Forefront, please click here…
