German virologist Klaus Stöhr is sounding the alarm: the rapid spread of bird flu across Germany could be a pandemic waiting to happen. With over 500,000 poultry culled in recent weeks, experts warn this isn’t just a local crisis—it’s a global wake-up call. 🌍
🦠 The Virus With Pandemic Potential
Stöhr, a former WHO influenza program lead, told Mitteldeutsche Zeitung the H5N1 strain has "all the characteristics" to trigger a worldwide health emergency. His message? Pandemics aren’t if—they’re when. 💡
📈 Outbreaks Spiking Nationwide
Germany’s Friedrich Loeffler Institute reports infections surging in chickens, ducks, and turkeys. "We expect more outbreaks," said institute head Christa Kuehn, as farms scramble to contain the spread. 🐔🔥
💉 Global Prep: The New Health Playbook
Stöhr’s prescription? Faster vaccine development, updated response plans, and tighter animal monitoring. "Good pandemic planning is the best protection," he stressed—a lesson COVID taught us all too well. 🧪📋
