Cases of bird flu have been reported in different countries, however, some countries seem to have an outbreak. There are different strains of the virus that are spreading, however, the most common ones that are spreading among humans are H5N1 and H7N9. Bird flu, also known as avian influenza is an infection from a type of influenza virus that usually spreads in birds and other animals. However, humans too can get bird flu from infected animals. The virus infects your upper respiratory tract and lungs and even spreads to other parts of your body, like your brain.

If the disease is not treated, it can turn out to be deadly. Here, take a look at the different countries where the virus is spreading.

In the US, the first case was seen in dairy cows which happened in Texas in March. Now, dairy cows in at least 12 states have been affected. According to Reuters, The U.S. Agriculture Department said tests so far indicate that the virus detected in cows is the same H5N1 virus affecting wild birds and commercial poultry flocks. The dairy workers who have tested positive for the virus this year had mild symptoms such as conjunctivitis, or pink eye. The European Food Safety Agency in a report said that the H5N1 virus in the United States has been detected only in North America so far.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) in June said that a person from Mexico died with the first known cases of H5N2 avian influenza in humans. Mexico’s government said chronic illness, rather than bird flu, was the cause of death. The person had no known exposure to animals.

The WHO said that a case of human infection with bird flu was caused by the H9N2 subtype in a four-year-old child in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal. It was the second human infection of H9N2 bird flu from India following a case in 2019. While the H9N2 virus usually causes mild illness, the agency said further sporadic human cases could occur as this is one of the most prevalent avian influenza viruses.

The WHO said that a child with H5N1 bird flu reported by Australia had travelled to Kolkata, India. Genetic sequencing showed the virus was a subtype of H5N1 and part of a strain that circulates in Southeast Asia and has been detected in previous human infections and in poultry. There have been three other outbreaks of different strains of the virus on poultry farms, H7N3, H7N8 and H7N9.

Vietnam reported that a 21-year-old student had died from the H5N1 bird flu in March. He had no underlying medical conditions but had been exposed to wild birds from hunting a couple of weeks prior to the onset of symptoms. Vietnam also reported a case in a 37-year-old man who was affected with the H9N2 strain.

Cambodia reported five human cases of H5N1 as of June 20.

This year China detected human cases caused by the H5N6, H9N2 and H10N3 strains with two fatal H5N6 cases. Both of these cases had been exposed to backyard poultry before the onset of symptoms, EFSA said.

Germany reported a rare outbreak of highly pathogenic H7N5 bird flu on a farm in the western part of the country which has a border with the Netherlands, the World Organisation for Animal Health said. It was the first outbreak anywhere of H7N5 on WOAH’s public records.