Unignorable public health risk of avian influenza virus during COVID‐19 pandemic

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Unignorable public health risk of avian influenza virus during COVID‐19 pandemic via Journal of Medical Virology Abstract Human infections with the newly emerging reassortant H5N6 avian influenza viruses (AIV) were reported1. AIV has been prevalent persistently worldwide, which results in a devastating impact on the poultry industry and even public health. Highly pathogenic AIV (HPAIV), including H5Ny lineages (H5N1, H5N2, H5N6, and H5N8) and H7N9 subtype, exhibit severe disease phenotype with high morbidity and mortality rates in birds, especially chickens. Although H9N2 AIV only could induce mild or no obvious clinical signs in poultry, the enlarged host species of H9N2 AIV could induce the potential threat to global health2 In late 2019, the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) broke out and swept the world population. Drastic mitigation measures were implemented among the international community to stop the COVID-19 crisis, including mass quarantine, physical distancing, and face mask usage. However, the elevated trend of human infections with the emer ging AIV during ongoing COVID-19 circulation still highlights the alert of the possible risk for the next human pandemic3. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. View on Web

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