What is H5N1 in the news in recent times ?

H5N1 is a highly pathogenic strain of the avian influenza virus, commonly known as Bird Flu. It primarily affects poultry and wild birds but has also caused significant human infections and fatalities globally [t1][t2]. In India, the first major outbreak occurred in 2006 in Maharashtra, leading to extensive surveillance and the culling of birds to prevent spread [c1][c2]. During 2008, the virus was frequently in the news due to fresh outbreaks in countries like South Korea, Bangladesh, and Cambodia, where it caused serious damage to poultry farms and raised concerns about a potential human pandemic [t1][t6]. The virus is categorized by its hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N) surface proteins [t1]. While other options mention the Andromeda galaxy [t4] or genetically modified organisms, H5N1 specifically refers to this viral pathogen that remains a critical public health and veterinary concern [c5][t5].

Sources

1. [1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19800184/
2. [2] https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2008DON67
3. [3] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 7: Resources > 6. National Awards: > p. 39
4. [4] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > Poultry Farming in India > p. 97
5. [5] Political Theory, Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Citizenship > 6.6 GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP > p. 94
6. [6] https://openaccess.city.ac.uk/id/eprint/23272/1/The%20Pandemic%20Century-ver3.pdf