Dr. Shayan Sharif, an avian immunologist with the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), spoke to news outlets about the risks associated with avian flu, following a human death linked to avian flu in Cambodia.
To The New York Times, Sharif said the genetic analysis will help determine whether the virus has mutated to spread in humans, and stressed now is the time for emergency preparation, not panic.
With the CityNews podcast The Big Story, Sharif explained the risks of H5N1 avian flu along with current monitoring efforts.
Sharif is the associate dean of research and graduate studies at the OVC and a professor in the Department of Pathobiology, where he researches poultry immunology.