Avian influenza spillover

Public Health Influenza viruses in birds have the potential to spill over to humans and cause pandemics, as occurred in 2009 with the H1N1 avian influenza virus. In a Perspective, Shi and Gao discuss the emergence of the H5N8 avian influenza virus lineage. In 2020, infections of wild and farmed birds with H5N8 spread across the globe, reaching at least 46 countries. The first human cases of H5N8 infection were reported in December 2020. More surveillance of this potentially highly pathogenic avian influenza virus lineage and rigorous infection control measures at farms are needed to avoid further spill over into humans. Science , abg6302, this issue p. [784][1] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.abg6302