A pandemic is a disease outbreak in people that spreads across countries or continents. It affects more people Pandemic Risk Definition and takes more lives than an epidemic which remains limited to one city, region, or country.
The risk of pandemics is increasing rapidly, with more than five new diseases emerging in people every year, any one of which has the potential to spread and become pandemic.
🔗 Source: IPBES Pandemics Workshop Report Executive Summary
The scientific evidence reviewed in this workshop report demonstrates that pandemics are becoming more frequent, driven by a continued rise in the underlying emerging disease events that spark them. Without preventative strategies, pandemics will emerge more often, spread more rapidly, kill more people, and affect the global economy with more devastating impact than ever before.
A recent editorial in Nature argued that “as long as H5N1 continues to be present in animals, that risk \[of a pandemic\] persists. And with so many other flu strains out in the world, all constantly evolving, a flu pandemic is inevitable”.
🔗 Source: The pig as a mixing vessel for influenza viruses: Human and veterinary implications
PMID: 19565018 Influenza A viruses are highly infectious respiratory pathogens that can infect many species. Birds are the reservoir for all known influenza A subtypes; and novel influenza viruses can emerge from birds and infect mammalian species including humans.
On Friday May 6 2022, the WHO issued new advice on bird flu: “Travellers to countries with known outbreaks of animal influenza should avoid farms, contact with animals in live animal markets, entering areas where animals may be slaughtered, or contact with any surfaces that appear to be contaminated with animal feces.”
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