International health organizations are sounding the alarm over the increasing prevalence of avian flu outbreaks worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO), alongside the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Organisation for Animal Health, expressed worry that the H5N1 virus could evolve to more easily infect humans. While current human cases are limited and mostly mild, the agencies stressed the importance of heightened surveillance and improved hygiene practices, particularly on poultry farms.

The rapid spread of a new, highly contagious H5N1 strain among wild birds has triggered infections and fatalities in various mammal species, escalating concerns about a potential human pandemic. Although the WHO has reported only a handful of human cases, all involving close contact with infected birds, the organizations are urging global action.

Dr. Sylvie Briand, WHO's director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention, emphasized the need for all countries to bolster their virus monitoring capabilities and human case detection. The collaborating agencies called for international cooperation to safeguard animal populations and protect human health. Sharing genetic data of the virus from both human and animal sources in public databases is also considered crucial.

Since 2022, approximately ten countries have documented avian flu outbreaks in land and marine mammals. These cases include farmed mink in Spain, seals in the United States, and sea lions in Peru and Chile, highlighting the virus's expanding reach.