Hey there! Heads up: Germany’s dealing with a serious bird flu wave—H5N1 is on the move, and experts say it could go global. 😮
German virologist Klaus Stoehr, who used to lead the WHO influenza program, warned in Mitteldeutsche Zeitung that "The H5N1 virus has all the characteristics necessary to trigger a pandemic." That means this bird flu strain could adapt to spread among people if it mutates further.
He’s urging us to boost our defenses with:
- New vaccine R&D 💉
- Updated pandemic plans 🌐
- Stronger animal health monitoring 🐔
In recent weeks, Germany’s federal agency FLI reports about 500,000 poultry—chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys—have been culled to contain the outbreaks. Institute head Christa Kuehn warns that more cases are likely.
Why it matters: Viruses don’t respect borders. An outbreak anywhere can shake up global trade and travel. Staying prepared is our best shot at keeping this in check. Stay informed, stay safe! ✌️
Reference(s):
Virologist warns of pandemic risk as bird flu spreads in Germany
cgtn.com
