New Delhi

Experts have warned that a potential bird flue pandemic could be '100 times worse than Covid' as it could lead to deaths up to half of those infected. 

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Researchers raised concerns during a recent briefing over H5N1 strain of the bird flu. They pointed out that the virus may be nearing a critical threshold that could spark a global epidemic, Daily Mail reported. 

Dr Suresh Kuchipudi, a bird flu researcher warned that H5N1 has potential to cause a pandemic due to its ability to infect a range of mammalian hosts, including humans.

"We are getting dangerously close to this virus potentially causing a pandemic," he said.

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"We are not really talking about a virus that is yet to make a jump, we are talking about a virus that is globally present, already infecting a range of mammals and is circulating… It is really high time that we are prepared," he added.

John Fulton, a pharmaceutical industry consultant, said: "This appears to be 100 times worse than Covid, or it could be if it mutates and maintains its high case fatality rate. Once it’s mutated to infect humans, we can only hope that the [fatality rate] drops."

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Over 50 out of 100 people diagnosed with H5n1 bird flu have died since 2003, with a total of 462 deaths out of 887 cases, according to the World Health Organization.

The H5N1 is a subtype of avian influenza A. It is a group of related bird flu viruses. The H5N1 is considered highly pathogenic because of its ability to cause severe and often fatal illness in poultry.

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While it mainly affects birds, H5N1 can also infect wild birds and occasionally mammals, including humans. In non-bird species, the disease can be fatal.

But some infected creatures may be mild or show no symptoms.

(With inputs from agencies)