Thread by @abledoc

BirdFlu outbreak in India #BirdFlu #H5N8 #H5N1 #BirdFlu2020 #HPAI #AvianFlu
Are we dealing with one outbreak or two separate outbreaks of H5N8 and H5N1 strains?
This is a thread on the BirdFlu Outbreak, analysing what we know so far and potential risk 1/n
timesnownews.com/india/article/…

Here is an excellent compilation of BirdDeath events across India. @birdcountindia affiliated with eBird.org is a science project promoting cataloging BirdRecords in India. You would find lists of events with links here 2/n #BirdFlu
birdcount.in/dead-or-dying-…

Mass deaths of Birds have been reported from Kerala since mid December including in Duck Farms.
The causative agent has been confirmed as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza type H5N8 #HPAIH5N8
Despite name it has very low pathogenicity in humans. 3/n
thehindu.com/news/national/…

#H5N8 first reported in 1983 has had outbreaks since 2010 with large ongoing outbreaks in 2020 in Europe.
H5N8 is highly pathogenic in Birds and cause mass deaths of domestic and wild birds. They are a threat to poultry farms. 4/n #HPAIH5N8 #HPAI
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…

Thus the H5N8 outbreak while putting poultry farms (especially duck farmers) at risk, is not an immediate risk to humans. (It can happen in future though as all human pandemic influenza A viruses originate in birds). But putting us in its path can increase risk of it happening.

The largescale deaths of migratory birds Bar-headed geese in Himachal Pradesh is much more alarming and an immediate health risk as it has been identified as #H5N1 #BirdFlu #HPAIH5N1 #HPAI #AvianInfluenza 5/n @MirrorNow @Ullekh @Ms_Aflatoon
timesnownews.com/india/article/…

Unlike #H5N8 which is not a threat to humans, #HPAIH5N1 can infect and cause severe disease in humans. Fortunately human to huma transmission is NOT efficient. All such instances have been in prolonged (hours) close contacts (family) #H5N1 6/n
cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/h…

H5N1 is more severe for younger people <40 (probably long term immunological memory of older people) and most severely affected are adolescents 11-19 yrs.
However risk to humans beyond poultry farms is minimal at this point. 7/n

On @MirrorNow
Discussing the risk from BirdFlu outbreak in India

https://twitter.com/MirrorNow/status/1346393544856985602?s=19

@pash22 Here is the lab report confirming #HPAIH5N1 flu at Pong Dam Himachal Pradesh, courtesy @birdcountindia
drive.google.com/file/d/1aSJbIt…

Reports of mass deaths of chicken in Panchkula (Haryana), not too far from Himachal Pradesh is also consistent with an #H5N1 outbreak in the North Indian states. #BirdFlu @maryashakil @Ullekh Though not immediate, H5N1 has greater risk to humans VS #H5N8
indianexpress.com/article/cities…

While H5N1 does not “easily” transmit between humans, controversial experiments have shown how easy it is for H5N1 to mutate & trigger a pandemic. These research while risky may also help us monitor outbreaks for pandemic potential. #HPAIH5N1 #BirdFlu 8/n
sciencemag.org/news/2019/02/e…

The current outbreaks in India are just a sideshow of multiple Avian Influenza outbreaks around the world such as from 04-24 Dec 2020 in image below courtesly WHO #BirdFlu #AvianInfluenza
oie.int/animal-health-…

A short while ago discussing the #BirdFlu Outbreak on @MirrorNow #AvianInfluenza

https://twitter.com/MirrorNow/status/1346842603556229121?s=20