Episode 58 - Alessandro Broglia and Katriina Willgert - Avian Flu – The Next Pandemic Threat?

ECDC: On Air

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control

Science

5 • 3 Ratings

🗓️ 5 March 2025

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This episode explores the growing threat of avian influenza, which has led to massive outbreaks in bird populations and an increasing number of cases in mammals.

With nearly 70 human cases and one death confirmed in the US recently linked to the H5N1 subtype, concerns are rising about its potential to spread among humans in Europe and cause a pandemic.

Experts from European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) discuss the risks to humans, the impact on animals, and the preventive measures that EU Member States can take.

Listen in to Alessandro Broglia (EFSA) and Katriina Willgert (ECDC) and learn more.

Read more on the highly pathogenic avian flu on ECDC portal and on EFSA's pages.

Transcript

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0:00.0	ECDC on air.
0:05.2	The podcast of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control.
0:08.8	Keeping up to date with European epidemiology.
0:14.6	Hello and welcome to ECDEC on air.
0:17.4	Today we're going to dive into a pressing global health issue, avian influenza. In recent years,
0:22.7	we've seen major avian flu outbreaks in bird populations across the world. Millions of domestic
0:27.5	poultry have been culled to contain the virus, and wild bird populations have been severely
0:32.0	affected. What's even more concerning is the growing number of cases in mammals, including
0:36.4	mink, sea lions and even cattle.
0:38.9	In the US, as of mid-February, nearly 70 confirmed human cases and one death have been linked to the H5 and 1 subtype.
0:46.3	This has been spreading widely in wild birds, poultry, and over the past year, also in dairy cows.
0:51.8	Could avian flu cause the next pandemic?
0:55.8	How great is the risk to humans?
1:00.9	To explore this topic, we're joined by Katrina Vilgett from ECDC, who will discuss the risks to humans, and also Alessandro Broglia from EFSA, the European Food Safety Authority, who will
1:07.0	explain the impact on poultry, wild birds and other animals. Together, we'll break down the latest findings, assess the potential threats to Europe,
1:14.3	and discuss what preventive measures EU member states can take. I wanted to start off with a very broad question to set the scene.
1:36.3	We're seeing many health threats now in the world today, so why should we care particularly about avian flu?
1:41.2	Why is that important?
1:42.5	Can we start with you, Alessandro?
1:44.2	Yes, thank you, Nicholas. So for sure, avian flu. Why is that important? Can we start with you, Alessandro? Yes.
1:44.7	Thank you, Nicholas.
1:45.9	So for sure, avian flu is something to consider very carefully because it is already a global threat,
	...

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