UN Declares 'Global Zoonotic Animal Pandemic' as Climate Change Contributes to Spread of Bird Flu

Climate change has been a recurring theme when it comes to the world's current environmental and ecological state. Scientific literature, media reporting, and even popular culture have made the ongoing climate crisis a subject of discussion, debate, and even entertainment. Worsening storms due to changing weather patterns and rising sea levels over global warming are the most notable impacts of the crisis.

However, emerging evidence in recent years shows that climate change is also contributing to the spread of infectious diseases, including pathogens carried by insects like mosquitoes. One such disease is avian influenza (bird flu), which according to scientists, is spreading faster than previously thought. Based on a growing body of research, the anthropogenic change of Earth's climate is a significant contributor.

Climate Change and Bird Flu

In the latest development surrounding the avian influenza outbreak, scientists further confirmed that climate change is helping in the acceleration of disease spread, including bird flu. Specifically, the changing global weather and climate conditions are influencing the movement and destination of migratory birds. This means that infected avians can spread the bird flu virus into new areas with no previous record of the disease.

Earlier in June 2024, University of California - Davis scientists warned people to "be alert" due to the continued adaptation and mutation of the avian influenza outbreak. This comes after US health authorities in May 2024 conducted tests and detected remnants of the avian influenza virus in dairy cows' milk products sold at grocery stores.

In April 2024, the United Nations along with pandemic experts declared the current bird flu outbreak as a "global zoonotic animal pandemic." Senior UN medics also stated the global bird flu infections in mammals are now a major public health concern.

The next potential pandemic has impacted multiple parts of the Americas, Europe, and Asia. In the United States and the remote Antarctic region, the bird-borne disease has not only spread to wild birds and poultry but also to mammals.

US Bird Flu Outbreak

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the US bird flu outbreak has infected a total of 9,499 wild birds as of Tuesday, June 18, and 97.1 million poultry as of Monday, June 24. The country also detected the infection of dairy cows in 12 states, including Idaho, Michigan, and Colorado. Furthermore, a total of four human cases have been reported in the US since the 2022 bird flu outbreak.

Earlier this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that one of the human cases in the US was caused by exposure to dairy cattle. The patient developed avian influenza symptoms on March 27 after apparently contracting the bird flu virus from infected cows, the WHO adds. Due to the threat, the country's Food and Drug Administration previously asked some states to decrease sales of raw milk.