Recently, World Health Organization officials said that although the risk of "human-to-human" transmission of the H5N1 virus is still low, the continued large-scale spread of the virus is a concern.

01.Cambodia has an infected person linked to avian flu deaths

Cambodia reported on the 23rd that an 11-year-old girl died after being infected with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The Cambodian Ministry of Health subsequently tested the girl's close contacts and found that her father had also tested positive.
WHO's epidemiological preparedness department head Sylvie Baillian said it was not possible to determine whether the two cases were due to interpersonal transmission or both had been exposed to an environment containing the H5N1 virus.

02.Argentina bird flu outbreak has expanded to six provinces, the country banned the trade of live birds

On February 24, local time, the Argentine Agri-Food Health and Quality Service issued a notice saying that as of that day, 12 confirmed cases of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus infection had been detected in wild birds and free-range poultry in the country, and more than 100 suspected cases. The announcement noted that the outbreak has spread to six provinces in Argentina, namely Jujuy and Salta in the north, Cordoba and Santa Fe in the center, Neuquén in the west and Buenos Aires in the east.
03.The largest outbreak of avian influenza ever recorded in many parts of the world
Since the end of 2021, hundreds of millions of poultry have been culled in the largest outbreaks of bird flu on record in the world. According to WHO, nearly 900 human H5N1 cases have been reported worldwide in the past 20 years, with more than 450 deaths.

Jeremy Farrer, who will soon be WHO's chief scientist, earlier last week called on governments to invest in the development of an H5N1 vaccine. According to the WHO, there are close to 20 vaccines approved for the H5 avian influenza virus, but it may take five or six months to upgrade and update them to make them effective against the H5N1 virus.