Should Belarusians Be Afraid Of Bird Flu Outbreak?

He's mutating at an alarming rate.

Recently, a man died in the United States from a rare strain of H5N5 bird flu. In other countries, meanwhile, there is already growing concern that viruses affecting birds could seriously threaten humans. For example, a few years ago, a woman died in China from H3N8 - at the time, it was also the first case for this subtype. But the real danger is H5N1, the World Health Organization notes. It mutates at an alarming rate, "tricks" the immune system and gets closer and closer to humans, starting to infect mammals and causing outbreaks among animals, writes "Mirror".

In our country, outbreaks of bird flu have not been officially reported. However, in 2023, the government restricted poultry exports to all countries except China, while noting that "there are no problems with poultry morbidity," including highly pathogenic avian influenza. The official reason for the restriction was the need to satiate domestic demand.

In the meantime, the Russian publication Kommersant, citing sources, reported that the real reason could still be an outbreak of bird flu at some factories. Despite the statements of officials that the restriction is not related to the virus, Belarus was added to the international lists of regions with highly pathogenic avian influenza just in 2023.

In turn, the European Food Safety Agency notes that wild birds are actively spreading H5N1 in the regions of the world, and the situation in Europe (including Belarus) is worrisome.

- From September 6 to November 14, 2025, the number of avian influenza cases among wild birds in Europe increased strongly - 1,443 infected birds were identified in 26 countries, four times more than a year earlier and a record high since 2016," experts explain.

The attention is also drawn to the fact that the vast majority of cases (99%) were specifically attributed to the H5N1 virus, with most of them associated with a new variation of a previously circulating strain. It was brought to Europe from the east and then quickly spread to the west.

The Research Institute of Hygiene, Toxicology, Epidemiology, Virology and Microbiology adds that in humans, this virus can cause disease in different forms: from a mild upper respiratory tract infection (fever and cough) to the rapid development of severe pneumonia, acute respiratory failure syndrome, shock and even death.

- Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are most commonly reported in people infected with this virus," they elaborate.

The initial symptoms usually include fever (38°C or more) and cough. Some patients and female patients report shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. Sore throat or runny nose are less common.

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