Increasing interactions between humans, animals and their environments are redefining the landscape of global health risks. Urbanization, intensive agriculture and the destruction of ecosystems are causing an unprecedented rapprochement between species, favoring the emergence of pathogens capable of crossing biological barriers and causing panzootics. The H5N1 avian flu, now called a “panzootic”, illustrates this phenomenon with alarming acuteness. It simultaneously affects birds, marine and terrestrial mammals, and threatens human health.
This unique ability to propagate between species reveals the flaws in ecological and health systems in the face of anthropogenic upheavals. As the world observes the escalation of these crises, understanding the transmission dynamics and ecological impacts of such epidemics becomes essential to prevent potential global catastrophes.
Unprecedented spread
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The H5N1 avian flu represents today a paradigm of panzootics. These are epidemics affecting numerous animal species simultaneously. Historically confined to domestic poultry, this highly pathogenic strain has crossed species barriers with unprecedented scale. As of 2020, it has been detected in more than 48 species of mammals, including predators like bears, marine carnivores like seals, and even domestic animals like dairy cows.
In North America South, it decimated around 20,000 sea lions and 17,000 elephant seals in 2023. That is 96% of births recorded this year in Argentina, with potentially irreversible repercussions on local populations. The lethality of this virus in humans, although it remains rare, exceeds 50%, signaling an alarming pandemic potential….Read more on Science and Life< meta name="syndication-source" content="https://www.wouldsayso.com/corps-et-sante/panzootie-une-menace-mondiale-pour-la-sante- humaine-et-animale-189304.html" />< meta name="robots" content="noindex, follow" />
With an unwavering passion for local news, Christopher leads our editorial team with integrity and dedication. With over 20 years’ experience, he is the backbone of Wouldsayso, ensuring that we stay true to our mission to inform.
