"Rising Concern: Bird Flu Outbreaks Prompt Urgent Action"

The World Health Organization has expressed deep concern over the spread of H5N1 bird flu to new species, including humans, with an "extraordinarily high" mortality rate. The virus has infected tens of millions of poultry, wild birds, and even cows and goats, posing a global zoonotic animal pandemic. While there is currently no evidence of human-to-human transmission, the mortality rate for those infected is 52 percent. Efforts are underway to develop vaccines and therapeutics, and there is a call for enhanced monitoring and equitable access to medical resources.