Scientists have warned that bird flu may mutate to become more transmissible to humans, after the United States reported its first serious case that sent a woman to hospital.
So far, 65 confirmed human cases of H5N1 have been reported in 2024, following widespread outbreaks across poultry and livestock farms in the United States.
A teenager in British Columbia, Canada, is reportedly suffering from severe symptoms and is receiving treatment in hospital.
Experts believe the number may be higher with no cases detected among dairy and poultry workers.
In the latest case, a woman from Louisiana suffered severe respiratory symptoms and was in “critical condition” after coming into contact with sick and dead birds. Telegraph Reports.
Officials said earlier this month that she was understood to be over 65 and had underlying health conditions.
An analysis published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on its website found that a small percentage of the virus detected in a patient’s throat had genetic changes that may lead to “increased binding of the virus” to specific cell receptors found in the upper part of the throat. Human respiratory system.
These changes were not found in birds, including the backyard poultry flock believed to have initially infected the Louisiana patient.
Scientists have warned that bird flu may mutate to become more transmissible to humans. Pictured: Culling has begun at infected sites in the UK
So far, 65 confirmed human cases of H5N1 have been reported in 2024, following large outbreaks on poultry and livestock farms in the United States.
The UK has also confirmed an outbreak of the virus, with 14 locations affected since November
The mutations “are likely due to replication of this virus in a patient with advanced disease,” the CDC said, adding that no transmission of the mutant virus to other humans has been identified.
While the results are “concerning”, the risks to the general public remain the same and low.
Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, said the specific mutation “is a necessary step to make a more efficiently transmissible virus.” “But I want to point out that it is not the only step.”
However, Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease researcher at the University of Minnesota, warned that bird flu could in time become a major coronavirus-like pandemic.
“There will be additional influenza pandemics and they could be much worse than what we saw with Covid,” he told the Associated Press. “We know the pandemic clock is ticking. We don’t know what time it is.
Avian influenza is now widespread in multiple states across the United States.
California Governor Gavin Newsom imposed a state of emergency on December 18, after the virus was discovered in at least 875 dairy herds in 16 states.
The virus has also been discovered in the United Kingdom.
The culling of infected birds has begun in Britain, while experts are trying to stop the spread of the virus
Turkish farms were hit by a bird flu outbreak just before Christmas.
Bird flu has reportedly been found in 14 locations across Britain since November.
As a result, tens of thousands of Turks were executed in an attempt to control the outbreak telegraph Understands.
Eight of the affected sites are located in Norfolk, including five turkey farms, a duck farm, a chicken farm and a non-commercial site home to emus and birds.
It is believed that the infected birds were culled humanely and their owners were compensated.