WHO calls for stronger animal surveillance to combat bird flu spread

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for stronger monitoring of H5N1 bird flu in animals to prevent its spread and protect humans. This comes after recent findings, including the virus detected in a pig in Oregon. WHO epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove highlighted the need for enhanced surveillance in susceptible animals, such as poultry and wild birds. The organization is collaborating with other agencies to improve global tracking efforts. While the risk to the general population remains low, the CDC reported 55 human cases of H5N1 in the U.S. this year, mostly among farm workers. No person-to-person transmission has been observed.