Ron Fouchier, professor of Molecular Virology at Erasmus MC, deputy director of the Department of Viroscience and director of the Dutch National Influenza Center, gave an exclusive interview to HealthNews about the risks of the HPAI H5 virus.
In the interview, Fouchier emphasizes that each human infection by the virus is a cause for concern, as there is always the possibility of the virus adapting to the new human host. The specialist emphasized the importance of continuous surveillance as a fundamental tool to prevent a potential pandemic.
The virologist also admits that, despite the promises made after the COVID-19 pandemic, the world remains poorly prepared to face the next pandemic. This assessment comes in a context of growing concern about the spread of the H5 virus among different species.
