PARIS / LONDON (IT BOLTWISE) – The renowned Institut Pasteur warns of a possible pandemic caused by a mutation of the H5 virus that could adapt the virus to mammals and humans. While the WHO and other international authorities consider the risks to be low, concerns about a future pandemic remain.
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The Institut Pasteur’s recent warning about the potential threat of a pandemic from the H5 virus has attracted worldwide attention. Marie-Anne Rameix-Welti, head of the Center for Respiratory Infections at the institute, emphasizes the possibility of a mutation that could better adapt the virus to mammals and ultimately to humans. This adaptation could lead to more frequent animal-to-human transmissions and eventually enable human-to-human transmission.
In contrast to seasonal flu viruses, against which there is a certain level of protection in the population, the H5 viruses lack natural immunity. This increases the risk of severe disease, especially since H5 viruses could also severely affect healthy adults. Between 2003 and 2025, almost a thousand infections with various H5 viruses were registered worldwide, almost half of which were fatal.
However, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international authorities such as the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) see the situation as less dramatic. They emphasize that the world is better prepared for a pandemic today than in 2019. Vaccine candidates against H5 variants already exist, and antiviral drugs could also be effective against mutated strains. In addition, transmission to humans remains extremely rare.
A recently reported case in the USA, in which a man with previous illnesses died of an H5N5 infection, has reignited discussions. However, the WHO points out that such cases have occurred repeatedly over the past 20 years and do not necessarily signal an impending pandemic. The data situation remains complex and individual cases can quickly come into focus.
Overall, the scientific consensus remains that mutation of bird flu viruses is possible and potentially dangerous. Nevertheless, there is currently no evidence of an impending human-to-human pandemic. The danger is particularly relevant for people with close contact with animals, while the general population is currently only exposed to a low risk. The warnings from the Institut Pasteur remind us to remain vigilant, even when panic is uncalled for.
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