The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has issued a grim warning about the growing threat posed by the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu virus.

The outbreak continues to spread from poultry to mammals, raising concerns over food security, economic disruptions, and the potential for human infection.

FAO Deputy Director-General Godfrey Magwenzi has described the current situation as unprecedented, warning of serious consequences for food production, rural employment, and local economies. The crisis is not limited to poultry farms—H5N1 has been detected in wild animals, domestic pets, and dairy cattle, raising fears of broader ecological and agricultural disruptions.

While human infections remain rare, recent findings from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) indicate that the virus is developing genetic markers that could enhance its ability to infect mammals, including humans. However, there is currently no confirmed evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission.

In response, FAO officials are urging governments to reinforce surveillance efforts, improve biosecurity measures, and enhance outbreak response strategies. FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol has stressed the importance of global cooperation, cautioning that any weaknesses in containment efforts could allow the virus to spread further, exacerbating its impact on food systems.

Wild birds are the primary source of transmission, but experts noted that high-density poultry farming can accelerate outbreaks when biosecurity measures fail. Large-scale farms, where thousands of birds are housed nearby, provide an ideal environment for the virus to spread and mutate.

While public health officials maintain that the current risk to humans is low, scientists caution that continued transmission in mammals increases the virus’s opportunity to evolve. As the crisis deepens, coordinated worldwide action will be critical in mitigating its long-term consequences.