WHO: avian influenza virus (H5N1) does not pose a health hazard
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
The mutated strain of the avian influenza virus (H5N1) does not pose an increased risk to human health, reports AFP referring to the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
A new strain of the H5N1 influenza virus was first discovered in Vietnam in 2009. At the end of August 2011, the FAO reported that this kind of avian influenza pathogen became prevailing in the country - a new virus was detected in 16 Vietnamese provinces.
After that, some media published reports about the threat posed by the spread of the new virus. WHO and FAO have refuted these reports. According to the organizations, specialists do not yet have data confirming the increased danger of the mutated H5N1 influenza virus for humans.
According to WHO, Viet Nam is the second most populous country after Indonesia for bird flu deaths. In particular, since 2003, Vietnamese physicians have registered 59 deaths. In total, more than 500 cases of H5N1 influenza virus infection have been confirmed in the world, at least 300 infected have died.