Health experts have warned that the H5 strain of bird flu could cause a pandemic more severe than COVID-19 if it begins spreading easily among humans. Marie-Anne Rameix-Velt, a respiratory infection specialist at France’s Pasteur Institute, cautioned that humans lack immunity against H5-type avian influenza, unlike common flu strains H1 and H3. The highly contagious virus has already led to the culling of millions of birds worldwide, disrupting food supply chains and raising market prices. The United States recently reported its first human case of H5N5 infection in Washington, which proved fatal. Most infections so far have been linked to close contact with infected animals. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 1,000 human infections have been recorded globally since 2003, with a fatality rate of about 48 percent. However, experts note that human-to-human transmission remains limited. Despite the risks, improved vaccines, antivirals, and faster production capabilities have strengthened global preparedness compared to previous outbreaks.