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Date Published: 03/04/2025

Avian flu spreads to mammals, raising food security concerns

Experts are keeping an eye on risks but stress human infections are still pretty rare

The H5N1 avian flu outbreak has now reached unprecedented levels, affecting hundreds of millions of birds around the world and increasingly spreading to mammals. While scientists are watching the situation closely, they want to reassure everyone that the risk to humans is low for now.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has warned that the outbreak is having "very serious impacts on food security and food supplies in some countries" (FAO, 2025). FAO Deputy Director-General Godfrey Magwenzi pointed out that the crisis is not only affecting farmers but also driving up food prices, disrupting local economies and causing job losses in rural areas.

In the United States, egg prices skyrocketed in February after 166 million birds – mostly laying hens – were culled due to the virus (FAO, 2025). The flu has also taken a toll on wildlife, with at least 300 species of wild birds affected since 2021. Scientists believe the massive scale of the outbreak has allowed the virus to spread to mammals, something that has raised concerns among experts.

Virologist Pierre Bessière from the National Veterinary School of Toulouse explained that "the circulation of the virus in mammals such as cattle is facilitating its acquisition of mutations that make it dangerous for humans" (Medscape, 2025). So far, H5N1 has not evolved to spread easily between humans, but there have been a few isolated cases, including one death in Louisiana earlier this year. In Canada, a young girl was critically ill for two months after contracting the D1.1 variant.

Bessière also noted that "between 1918 and today, there have been four pandemics caused by avian influenza viruses. Historically, these viruses have often caused global pandemics. Currently, H5N1 viruses have all the tools necessary to acquire pandemic potential" (Medscape, 2025). However, he reassured that, at present, the virus is not spreading between people, which is the key factor in determining its threat level.

For the time being, experts are still keeping tabs on the outbreak and working to contain its spread. While the situation is serious, there is no immediate cause for alarm, and steps are being taken to protect both food supplies and public health.

Image: Alexas Fotos/Pexels

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