The professor assured that with the experience acquired with the Covid-19 pandemic, it is necessary to work to avoid the advance of an H5N1 bird flu epidemic, that is to say, it is not necessary to wait for the virus to be transmitted to humans.

Ponce de León, specialist of the University Program for Research on Epidemiological and Emerging Risks, reminded that on March 13, the Pan American Health Organization issued an epidemiological alert for the Americas region, after the presence of the virus was reported in 16 countries.

This implies expanding capacities, making supplies available earlier, detecting the onset as early as possible, educating the population and communicating information clearly.

At the moment, he assured, there is no cause for alarm; however, for the first time in the experience of the evolution of H5N1 infection in birds, there is a worldwide transmission.

jrr/arm/mem/lma.