Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus: How Far Are We from a New Pandemic?
The focus of this commentary is represented by the pandemic risk associated with the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus, clade 2.3.4.4b. More in detail, the herein dealt pandemic alarm appears to be primarily justified by the huge and progressively growing number of virus-suscept...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Veterinary Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/6/566 |
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| author | Giovanni Di Guardo |
| author_facet | Giovanni Di Guardo |
| author_sort | Giovanni Di Guardo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The focus of this commentary is represented by the pandemic risk associated with the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus, clade 2.3.4.4b. More in detail, the herein dealt pandemic alarm appears to be primarily justified by the huge and progressively growing number of virus-susceptible domestic and wild birds and mammals, including threatened marine mammal species like South American sea lions and elephant seals as well as harbour porpoises, bottlenose dolphins and polar bears. Of major concern is the susceptibility of dairy cattle to HPAI A(H5N1) virus, particularly the documented and unprecedented colonization of host’s mammary gland tissue, resulting in viral shedding through the milk alongside a large series of cases of infection in dairy farm workers in several USA locations. Despite well-documented zoonotic capability, no evidences of a sustained and efficient HPAI A(H5N1) viral transmission between people have been hitherto reported. If this were to happen sooner or later, a new pandemic might consequently arise. Therefore, keeping all this in mind and based upon the lessons taught by the COVID-19 pandemic, a “One Health, One Earth, One Ocean”-centered approach would be absolutely needed in order to deal in the most appropriate way with the HPAI A(H5N1) virus-associated zoonotic and pandemic risk. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5d42eae5014a4291bb3064c3d948fbf9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2306-7381 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Veterinary Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-5d42eae5014a4291bb3064c3d948fbf92025-08-20T03:26:56ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812025-06-0112656610.3390/vetsci12060566Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus: How Far Are We from a New Pandemic?Giovanni Di Guardo0General Pathology and Veterinary Pathophysiology, Veterinary Medical Faculty, University of Teramo, Località Piano d’Accio, 64100 Teramo, ItalyThe focus of this commentary is represented by the pandemic risk associated with the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus, clade 2.3.4.4b. More in detail, the herein dealt pandemic alarm appears to be primarily justified by the huge and progressively growing number of virus-susceptible domestic and wild birds and mammals, including threatened marine mammal species like South American sea lions and elephant seals as well as harbour porpoises, bottlenose dolphins and polar bears. Of major concern is the susceptibility of dairy cattle to HPAI A(H5N1) virus, particularly the documented and unprecedented colonization of host’s mammary gland tissue, resulting in viral shedding through the milk alongside a large series of cases of infection in dairy farm workers in several USA locations. Despite well-documented zoonotic capability, no evidences of a sustained and efficient HPAI A(H5N1) viral transmission between people have been hitherto reported. If this were to happen sooner or later, a new pandemic might consequently arise. Therefore, keeping all this in mind and based upon the lessons taught by the COVID-19 pandemic, a “One Health, One Earth, One Ocean”-centered approach would be absolutely needed in order to deal in the most appropriate way with the HPAI A(H5N1) virus-associated zoonotic and pandemic risk.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/6/566highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruscow H5N1cattle H5N1pandemicspandemic riskemerging infectious diseases |
| spellingShingle | Giovanni Di Guardo Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus: How Far Are We from a New Pandemic? Veterinary Sciences highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus cow H5N1 cattle H5N1 pandemics pandemic risk emerging infectious diseases |
| title | Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus: How Far Are We from a New Pandemic? |
| title_full | Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus: How Far Are We from a New Pandemic? |
| title_fullStr | Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus: How Far Are We from a New Pandemic? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus: How Far Are We from a New Pandemic? |
| title_short | Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus: How Far Are We from a New Pandemic? |
| title_sort | highly pathogenic avian influenza a h5n1 virus how far are we from a new pandemic |
| topic | highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus cow H5N1 cattle H5N1 pandemics pandemic risk emerging infectious diseases |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/6/566 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT giovannidiguardo highlypathogenicavianinfluenzaah5n1virushowfararewefromanewpandemic |