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You might see more news like this for a bit.
1) The mortality rate *is* high for human infection, and
2) it *is* spreading in other mammals, but
3) there's no human-to-human transference yet.
So how can we empower ourselves with this news?
We can advocate locally to reduce industry pressures on livestock management and to invest more in medical facilities.
We should also always promote best practices when ill.
Otherwise? Hang in there, gang. The polycrisis sucks.
@MLClark as a horse owner, I see this as a requirement to ensure my horses are up-to-date on vaccinations including flu. Horse-to-human is a likely means of transmission (jumps more easily and more general exposure) so I'm aware. And watching.
Thank you for your vigilance!
The article link, for those curious - but I wanted to address that feeling of helplessness this news can leave us with first.
"From 2003 to 2024, 889 cases and 463 deaths caused by H5N1 have been reported worldwide from 23 countries, according to the WHO, putting the case fatality rate at 52%.
Farrar called for increased monitoring, saying it was “very important understanding how many human infections are happening ... because that’s where adaptation ... will happen”.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/18/risk-bird-flu-spreading-humans-enormous-concern-who