Bird Flu Virus Mutates to Better Adapt to Human Airways, but No Evidence of Spread
A severely ill patient hospitalized in the United States has been found to be infected with a mutated form of the bird flu virus that is better adapted to human airways. The virus, known as H5N1, has undergone genetic changes that may lead to increased binding to cell receptors found in the upper respiratory tract of humans. However, authorities have emphasized that there is no evidence that the mutated virus has spread beyond the individual patient.
The mutation was detected in a patient from Louisiana who was hospitalized in critical condition earlier this month. An analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that a small percentage of the virus detected in the patient’s throat had the genetic changes, which have not been found in birds.
Experts have cautioned that it is too early to determine whether the mutation would make the virus more easily transmissible or cause more severe disease in humans. The mutation may allow the virus to more easily enter cells, but further testing is needed to confirm this.
Despite the mutation, authorities are more concerned about the overall level of bird flu currently circulating, with 65 confirmed human cases reported in the United States in 2024. The CDC has warned that the virus could reassort with seasonal flu, leading to rapid evolutionary leaps and potentially causing pandemics.
The discovery of the mutated virus serves as a reminder for public health officials to remain vigilant and for individuals to take precautions to prevent the spread of bird flu, particularly among dairy and poultry workers who are at higher risk of exposure.
