How does Saudi health deal with bird flu? Warnings and preparations

Increasing cases of bird influenza virus transmission from mammals to humans, including rare cases of transmission from cows, have raised health concerns in several countries around the world.

Confirm Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health For preventive health and infectious diseases consultant in the Ministry, Dr. Abdullah bin Mufarreh Asiri, said that the virus strain Bird flu Known as H5N1, it may have been around for decades but is currently raising concern due to its potential transmission to humans.

In his statements on the “X” platform, Asiri explained that this virus is considered fatal to birds and can be transmitted to humans upon exposure to infected birds. He pointed out that the symptoms that humans may experience are usually mild and go away quickly, and no human transmission between individuals has been identified so far.

Asiri added that an increase in the spread of this virus in birds has been observed in recent years, with cases of infection in mammals including livestock being recorded. He also pointed to rare cases of transmission of the virus from cows to humans in the United States during the past few weeks.

He said, despite the increased possibility of the spread of epidemics caused by influenza viruses, the world is ready to face this challenge, pointing to the availability of the necessary capabilities to produce influenza vaccines quickly and the existence of effective systems for monitoring viruses in animals and humans.

Asiri concluded his statements with a call for vigilance and to follow recommended preventive measures to avoid the transmission of viruses between animals and humans, stressing that international cooperation and global health preparedness play a crucial role in combating these potential health risks.