Bird flu detected at more farms in Hungary

The H5N1 avian influenza subtype has been identified at duck farms in Fejér County, in the west, and Hajdu-Bihar County, in the east of the country, food safety authority Nebih said on Tuesday.

First detection of avian influenza

The H5N1 avian influenza subtype has been identified at a duck farm in Békés County, in the southeast of the country, food safety authority Nébih said on October 2, 2024.

Around 25,000 ducks are being destroyed in Fuzesgyarmat. Protection and surveillance zones have been established around the farm.

Avian influenza was identified in the wild bird population days earlier.

Csongrád-Csanád County

On Monday, food safety authority Nebih said that the H5N1 avian influenza subtype has been identified at a duck farm in Csongrád-Csanád County, in the south of the country.

The farm in Pusztaszer has destroyed around 9,500 ducks. Protection and surveillance zones have been established around the farm.

Fejér and Hajdú-Buhar County

Over 40,000 ducks have been destroyed at the farms in Mezőfalva and Hajdúnánás, Nébih said today.

Protection and surveillance zones have been established around the farms.

Why is bird flu dangerous?

Bird flu, or avian influenza, is dangerous primarily because of its potential to cause severe illness in birds and humans. Here are the main reasons why it is considered so dangerous:

1. High Mortality Rate in Birds:
Bird flu viruses can spread quickly among wild birds and poultry, leading to devastating outbreaks that kill large numbers of birds. This has significant economic consequences for the poultry industry.

2. Potential to Infect Humans:
Some strains of bird flu, particularly H5N1 and H7N9, can jump from birds to humans. While human-to-human transmission is rare, when it occurs, the infection can be severe and often deadly. The mortality rate in infected humans can be as high as 60%, which is much higher than typical seasonal flu.

3. Severe Illness in Humans:
When humans contract bird flu, it often leads to severe respiratory illness, pneumonia, and complications such as multi-organ failure. The symptoms are more severe than typical flu cases, leading to hospitalization and high death rates.

4. Risk of Mutations:
The virus has a high potential for mutation. If bird flu were to mutate into a form that spreads easily between humans, it could trigger a global pandemic. The fear is that it could combine with human flu viruses, potentially creating a highly contagious and deadly strain.

5. Limited Immunity:
Since bird flu is not commonly transmitted between humans, most people have no immunity to it. This lack of immunity increases the danger of widespread infection if a highly transmissible form emerges.

6. Lack of Vaccines:
While vaccines for bird flu exist, they are not widely available for the general public, and they may not be effective against all strains. This means there would be limited defenses against a large-scale outbreak.

These factors together make bird flu a serious global health concern, especially because virus evolution is unpredictable.

The farmer concerned is entitled to compensation from the State for the measures taken to control avian influenza.

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