Experts Warn of Potential Bird Flu Triggering Disease with 40% Mortality Rate within 20 Years
Top virologists have issued a grave warning, suggesting that the next global pandemic could be sparked by a disease with a staggering 40% mortality rate within the next two decades. This dire prediction comes in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, with experts emphasizing that the current health crisis may only be the beginning.
Bird Flu as the Main Culprit
Experts have identified bird flu as a potential catalyst for the next pandemic. This virus, which primarily affects birds, has the ability to spread to mammals, including humans, through respiratory droplets. It is within this cross-species transmission that the potential for a new, highly lethal virus emerges.
Dr. Leonard Mermell of Brown University, an experienced virologist, explains that the convergence of human and avian influenza within a single host can lead to the creation of a new, hybrid virus. This supervirus, once unleashed, has the capability to rapidly spread from person to person, culminating in a worldwide pandemic.
The Looming Threat
The stakes are high, with experts cautioning that the next pandemic may stem from bird flu. Dr. Martin Hirsch of Massachusetts General Hospital underscores the likelihood of such a scenario, emphasizing the potential for a devastating impact.
Moreover, the conditions in which animals are raised, particularly in regions like the United States, Europe, and China, present an environment conducive to the spread of diseases. Consequently, the emergence of a new lethal virus remains a looming threat, with the timing of its occurrence proving difficult to predict.
For those in the field of public health and virology, the looming specter of a potential pandemic serves as a sobering reminder of the critical importance of ongoing vigilance and preparedness.
Warning that bird flu could trigger a disease with a 40% mortality rate within 20 years
Entered 2023.11.21 12:00 Views 32 Entered 2023.11.21 12:00 Modified 2023.11.21 11:09 Views 32
Experts have pointed to bird flu as the main culprit of the next pandemic. [사진= 게티이미지뱅크]Top virologists have warned that COVID-19 is only the tip of the iceberg compared to the next pandemic. They predicted that the next pandemic could be triggered by a disease with a 40% death rate within 20 years.
Virus experts interviewed by the British daily Dailymail said that respiratory viruses spread through coughs and sneezes were droplets most likely to cause the next pandemic that would lead to global lockdowns.
Experts have pointed to bird flu as the main culprit of the next pandemic. Bird flu is a virus that mainly infects birds and tends to spread through respiratory droplets. It can also cross the species barrier and infect mammals, including humans.
“If a poultry worker with human flu is infected at the same time as an avian strain, the next virus is likely to emerge,” said Dr. Leonard Mermell of Brown University, who has studied viruses for decades. “The two viruses meet inside the cell and exchange genes, creating a new chimera.” “It will create a virus,” he said. He explained, “The supervirus created in this way will then begin to spread rapidly from person to person through respiratory droplets and spread around the world, triggering the next pandemic.”
“This strain can cause death in 30 to 40 percent of infected people,” he said, adding “China is the most likely place where the new virus first appeared, as it often records human cases of bird flu .”
Dr said. Martin Hirsch of Massachusetts General Hospital also, “The next pandemic could be triggered by bird flu.” “The possibility is high,” he warned.
“It is likely to happen in the United States, Europe or China, where many animals are raised in dirty and confined conditions, making it easy for diseases to spread,” he said. “It’s hard to predict when it will happen, but flu outbreaks tend to happen every 10 to 40 years.” he added.
#COVID19 #tip #iceberg #expected #pandemic
