The WHO maintains the global health risk of bird flu at a low level

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that it maintains the global health risk of avian influenza at a "low" level despite the discovery in cattle and even in the milk of these animals of the H5N1 virus that causes this disease, whose case fatality rate in humans still exceeds 50%. In a report issued together with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (WHO), the WHO maintains that level, although it raises it to "between low and moderate" for people exposed to sick birds and other animals, or to "contaminated environments" with the virus. The agencies urge States to maintain close surveillance of cases in birds, and to investigate and report possible infections in non-avian species such as those that make up domestic livestock. A few weeks ago, a case of H5N1 avian flu was reported in a farm worker in Texas (southern United States), which is considered the first known infection from cows to humans. Experts link this ...