VOA健康报道2024--Where Is Bird Flu Spreading around the World?

Where Is Bird Flu Spreading around the World?

Different versions of bird flu have been spreading around the world in recent years.

The virus, officially known as H5N1, is believed to have killed millions of wild and domestic¹ birds worldwide. Some other animals have also been infected.

The virus infected a very small number of people as well. But, H5N1 largely has remained outside the human population. Most of the few human cases involved direct contact between people and infected birds.

Reuters news agency recently explored areas of the world where versions of H5N1 have infected humans.

United States

In the United States, the first known cases of infected dairy cows happened in Texas in March. Currently², dairy cow groups in at least 12 states have been affected³.

The U.S. Agriculture Department has said tests so far suggest the virus identified in cows is the same H5N1 found to have infected wild birds and farm birds, also called poultry⁴. Four dairy workers who tested positive for the virus this year showed only minor⁵ signs of sickness, such as conjunctivitis, an eye condition.

Officials from the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) said in a report the H5N1 virus spreading in the U.S. is related to a version only identified in North America so far.

Mexico

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on June 5 that a resident of Mexico died with the first known cases of H5N2 bird flu in humans. Mexico's government disputed that cause of death, saying instead the person died of another sickness. Officials said the person had no known contact with animals.

Australia

On June 7, the WHO said a child reported by Australia to have H5N1 had traveled to Kolkata, India. Genetic⁶ testing showed the virus was a version of H5N1. That version was known to have been spreading in Southeast Asia and has been identified in previous human infections and in poultry.

Separately, Australia is dealing⁷ with three outbreaks of different bird flu versions on poultry farms. These include H7N3, H7N8 and H7N9. Officials said those versions likely arrived on farms through wild birds.

India

In India, the WHO reported a case of human infection with bird flu on June 11. It was caused by the H9N2 version in a four-year-old child in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal. The agency said it was the second human infection of H9N2 bird flu from India following a case in 2019.

The H9N2 virus generally only causes mild sickness. But the WHO said further human cases could happen because this version is one of the most common at poultry farms in different areas.

Vietnam

In March, Vietnam reported a 21-year-old student had died from the H5N1 virus. He had no existing medical conditions. But officials said the student had had contact with wild birds from hunting a couple of weeks before signs of sickness appeared. No contact with dead or sick poultry was reported at the time.

The EFSA said Vietnam also reported an outbreak of H9N2 in a 37-year-old man.

Cambodia

Cambodia has reported five human cases of H5N1 as of June 20.

China

This year, China has identified human cases caused by the H5N6, H9N2 and H10N3 versions. Two deaths were reported with H5N6 cases in the country’s Fujian province. The EFSA said both individuals had contact with household poultry before they showed signs of sickness.

The case of H10N3 bird flu was the third one ever reported worldwide.

Germany

Germany reported a rare outbreak of H7N5 bird flu on a farm in a western part of the country near the border with the Netherlands. The case was identified July 4 by the World Organization for Animal Health. The group said it was the first outbreak anywhere of H7N5 on the group’s public records.

Words in This Story

domestic adj. relating to the home and family relationships

dairy – n. containing or made from milk

positive – adj. in a medical test, positive means the person being tested has a disease or condition

1 domestic   

adj.家里的，国内的，本国的；n.家仆，佣人

参考例句：

• This is domestic news.这是国内新闻。
• She does the domestic affairs every day.她每天都忙家务。

2 currently   

adv.通常地，普遍地，当前

参考例句：

• Currently it is not possible to reconcile this conflicting evidence.当前还未有可能去解释这一矛盾的例证。
• Our contracts are currently under review.我们的合同正在复查。

3 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

4 poultry   

n.家禽，禽肉

参考例句：

• There is not much poultry in the shops. 商店里禽肉不太多。
• What do you feed the poultry on? 你们用什么饲料喂养家禽?

5 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

6 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

7 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。