PARIS — The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) issued an urgent warning on Wednesday (Jan 8), calling for intensified efforts to curb the spread of bird flu among animals following the first reported human death from the virus in the United States. Experts emphasize that proactive measures are crucial to prevent further human infections.

The highly contagious avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, has surged worldwide in recent years, devastating poultry populations, driving up food costs, and sparking fears of a potential new pandemic.

"This tragic case underscores how critical it is to address the disease at its source—animals. Effective containment is key to stopping both animal outbreaks and possible spillover into humans," WOAH Director General Emmanuelle Soubeyran told Reuters in an exclusive interview.

Soubeyran stressed that governments must invest more in tracking viral mutations across wild birds and livestock—especially after unprecedented outbreaks affecting species like U.S. dairy cattle. "The scale of this outbreak is unlike anything we've seen before—it's global and crossing species barriers," she warned.

"Without proper surveillance, infections could escalate unnoticed among poultry, pigs, cattle, and wildlife. That’s where dangerous mutations occur—potentially triggering a pandemic," she explained.

The virus typically spreads via migratory birds before jumping to farms—and occasionally infecting humans, particularly agricultural workers exposed to sick animals.

Soubeyran also urged expanded vaccination programs alongside existing containment strategies: "Properly deployed vaccines reduce viral transmission dramatically—lowering risks for both animals and people."

However many major exporters remain hesitant due trade concerns; only France actively vaccinates poultry flocks while others fear import bans if they acknowledge outbreaks publicly.