Parents feel lacking information on bird flu, while H5N1 virus jumps to mammals

78% of parents rely on news reports to stay informed about bird flu, 31% turn to social media, and only 11% consult healthcare providers for guidance, according to a recent University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll. The survey included 2,021 parents of children aged 18 years or younger, with just 43% reporting confidence in their ability to access accurate information about the H5N1 virus.

These results are particularly troubling given this week's warning from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, which described the current bird flu threat as 'unprecedented' due to the H5N1 virus jumping to mammals. Globally, health experts have expressed concern about increasing bird flu cases, especially in the US, where an outbreak affecting poultry and dairy cows has resulted in 67 human infections and one death. Since first detected in 1997, this clade has caused 954 human cases across 24 countries, though no cases have yet been reported in Europe, according to the European Commission.

How confident do you feel in advising your patients about bird flu?