Virus '100x Worse Than COVID' Puts World 'Dangerously Close' To Pandemic

A virus said to be "100 times worse than COVID" is reportedly putting the world "dangerously close" to the next pandemic, an expert warned.

Cases of Avian flu are rising among humans, which includes one recently found in Texas, leading to concerns among medical professionals about the deadly H5N1 strain. Dr. Suresh Kuchipudi, a bird flu researcher based in Pittsburgh, claims the world is closer to another pandemic than any point since the coronavirus outbreak as the Avian flu appears to be fatal to half of its patients.

“This virus has been on the top of the pandemic list for many, many years and probably decades. And now we are getting dangerously close to this virus potentially causing a pandemic," Dr. Kuchipudi said during a White House briefing via the Daily Star. “H5N1 viruses have already demonstrated several important features of a potential pandemic virus, the virus is already globally distributed, and this virus particularly that is often perceived as an avian virus can and it has shown the ability to infect a range of mammalian hosts including humans.”

Dr. Kuchipudi stressed that the virus isn't one to worry about in the future, rather is already "globally present" and "infecting a range of mammals and is circulating."

"So, therefore, in my view, I think this is a virus that has the greatest pandemic threat [that is] playing out in plain sight and is globally present. It is really high time that we are prepared,” he said via the Daily Star.