German virologist Klaus Stoehr, former head of the World Health Organization's influenza program, warns that the fast-spreading H5N1 outbreak across Germany carries all the hallmarks of a potential pandemic.
In the past weeks, authorities have culled roughly 500,000 poultry —including chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys—under the watch of the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI), the nation's federal animal health agency.
"The H5N1 virus has all the characteristics necessary to trigger a pandemic," Stoehr told Mitteldeutsche Zeitung, stressing the urgency of ramping up global preparedness.
He urged governments and health systems to accelerate vaccine development, update pandemic response plans worldwide and strengthen surveillance of animal populations.
Christa Kuehn, head of the FLI, cautioned that further outbreaks are likely. "It is impossible to predict how the situation will develop, but the FLI is expecting a further increase in outbreaks and cases."
For young global citizens and digital nomads, keeping an eye on regional health alerts and supporting sustainable farming practices can be crucial for safe, responsible travel. At the same time, biotech startups and researchers face a clear call to innovate solutions that protect both human and animal health.
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Virologist warns of pandemic risk as bird flu spreads in Germany
cgtn.com
