Dealing with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza: An Impending Crisis

Overview of the Emergence, Spread, and Outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Viruses of H5N8

Humans and other animals have always been battling viruses, especially those that cause emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. Along with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses of the H5 subtype are attacking silently as a re-emerging disease, thus seriously impairing poultry and human health. Recently, there have been outbreaks of the H5N8 subtype of HPAI virus in many regions around the world. According to data available through the Global Animal Disease Information System ( http://empres-i.fao.org/ ) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, a total of 412 HPAI H5N8 outbreaks were reported worldwide from August 31 to December 1, 2020, with 353,851 animals confirmed to be infected in 26 countries around the world.