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Kim Gruetzmacher, a wildlife conservation veterinarian and researcher, emphasizes that "it's not the wildlife itself that poses a risk, but our behavior and the specific ways we come into contact with it."
UN health authorities have raised an "enormous concern" about the potential for bird flu to spread among humans.
Ed Hutchinson from the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research notes that it's rare for infectious diseases to move from one species to another. "So when that happens, it is striking and concerning," he highlights.
Experts warn that bird flu presents a "unique and new" threat in our lifetime, as it has evolved into a "panzootic"—a disease capable of killing large numbers across multiple species.
Since it seems like H5N1 is moving toward this direction, that's what makes it "so unpredictable," says Daly. "[It's] unique and new in our lifetime and memory."
This ability of H5N1 to infect, spread among, and kill such a wide range of species has led some scientists to label it a panzootic.
This image shows a mutation of the virus that affects birds and leads to avian flu.
Understanding this dynamic is key to mapping these diseases and safeguarding public health.
The highly contagious H5N1 bird flu has reportedly been spreading across poultry and dairy farms for months, with dozens of human infections recorded among farm workers.
The term "panzootic" combines "all" and "animals." According to Prof. Janet Daly from the University of Nottingham, "We have viruses that can infect multiple species and others that cause massive outbreaks, but the combination of both is a new phenomenon.
The patient contracted bird flu, or highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), H5N1, after coming into contact with both a non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds.
In the case of bird flu, health authorities advise that the best way to protect yourself and your family from H5N1 is to avoid exposure. This means steering clear of direct contact with wild birds and other animals known or suspected to be infected with the bird flu virus.
Currently, there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission, but experts are closely monitoring the situation.
Researchers stress that bird flu is not an isolated case. In fact, three-quarters of emerging diseases can be transmitted between animals and humans.
As shrinking habitats, biodiversity loss, and intensified farming create ideal conditions for infectious diseases to jump between species, some scientists warn that panzootics could become one of the defining threats to human health and security in this era.
From March 2024 to January 2025, 66 confirmed human infections of bird flu were reported in the US, though previous cases have been mild.
The patient, over 65 and with underlying medical conditions, was named in a statement from the department, raising concerns about the growing potential for the virus to spread more widely among humans.
On January 6, 2025, the Louisiana Department of Health confirmed that a patient hospitalized with the state’s first human case of the avian influenza virus had passed away.
The flu virus, responsible for an infectious and contagious respiratory illness, constantly evolves, causing both seasonal epidemics and the potential for major global pandemics.
Experts report the disease has now spread to more than 48 mammal species, ranging from bears to dairy cows, and has led to mass die-offs among sea lions and elephant seal pups.
A mutation of the virus quickly spread among sea lions, which travel in groups of up to 800. Argentine scientists reported that this was the first documented case of the virus transmitting from birds to sea lions in the country’s history.
More than 20,000 South American sea lions have died in Chile and Peru, while an estimated 17,000 southern elephant seal pups have perished in Argentina—representing 96% of all pups born in the country in 2023.
Some researchers contend that COVID-19 may be an example of a panzootic, given that it has infected over 58 non-human species, including deer, mink, and even snow leopards.
However, unlike bird flu, it doesn't spread easily between these species or cause widespread deaths, so it doesn't fully align with the traditional definition.
For other zoonotic diseases, experts recommend staying up-to-date on vaccinations, protecting yourself from insect bites, wearing gloves when handling animals (alive or dead), and following safe food preparation practices.
The importance of monitoring diseases that could turn into panzootics is highlighted by the case of COVID-19. Identifying the virus as a potential panzootic early on could have led to more proactive animal surveillance and faster vaccine development, according to researchers.
Mark Honigsbaum, a medical historian and author of 'Pandemic Century,' says the answer is simple: it's due to how humans continue to settle and expand into larger and larger areas of the planet.
Many of the diseases that worry global health authorities—such as COVID-19, mpox, avian flu, and swine flu—are believed to have originated in wildlife.
Biodiversity loss is a key driver of infectious disease outbreaks. Deforestation and climate change are pushing humans and animals into closer contact as wildlife is forced into shrinking habitats. At the same time, as the climate warms, mosquitoes, midges, and ticks are expanding their ranges, bringing new health risks.
They also advise avoiding contact with infected body fluids, refraining from eating meat from wild animals, and taking precautions to prevent animal bites and scratches.
Sources: (The Guardian) (Cleveland Clinic)
See also: Long before COVID: The deadliest pandemics in history
The rise of panzootic diseases—those that spread across multiple animal species and jump to humans—has experts sounding the alarm. Bird flu (H5N1) is one such example, sparking concerns over its potential to cause a global health crisis. As deforestation, climate change, and human encroachment on wildlife habitats increase, the risk of these diseases spreading has never been higher.
But don’t panic just yet—there are steps we can take to protect ourselves. Want to know more about how panzootic diseases are reshaping the future of human health and what you can do to stay safe? Click through to learn more.
Diseases that can jump from animals to humans are on the rise, scientists warn
What you need to know and how to stay safe
HEALTH Epidemic
The rise of panzootic diseases—those that spread across multiple animal species and jump to humans—has experts sounding the alarm. Bird flu (H5N1) is one such example, sparking concerns over its potential to cause a global health crisis. As deforestation, climate change, and human encroachment on wildlife habitats increase, the risk of these diseases spreading has never been higher.
But don’t panic just yet—there are steps we can take to protect ourselves. Want to know more about how panzootic diseases are reshaping the future of human health and what you can do to stay safe? Click through to learn more.