Bird flu patient had mutations, sparking concern about spreading among humans

A recent case of severe bird flu illness in a patient in Louisiana has raised concerns after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that the virus had mutated within the individual. This mutation suggests that there is a potential for the virus to spread from human to human, posing a significant threat to public health.

The CDC conducted an analysis of samples of the H5N1 virus collected from the patient, comparing its genomic sequences to those from infected dairy cows, wild birds, poultry, and other animals. The agency found low frequency mutations in the hemagglutinin gene of the virus, which were not present in samples from poultry on the patient’s property. This indicates that the changes in the virus emerged within the patient after infection.

While these mutations are rare in humans, they have been reported in previous cases of A(H5N1) in other countries, particularly in cases of severe disease. Health officials are recommending ongoing genomic surveillance in both people and animals, containment of bird flu outbreaks among dairy cattle and poultry, and measures to prevent transmission when exposed to infected animals or environments.

Despite the discovery of these genetic changes in the virus, the CDC maintains that the risk to the general public is still low. The mutations found in the virus from the Louisiana patient were not present in viral genomes from backyard birds, suggesting that the mutations arose during the course of the individual’s infection.

Dr. Marc Siegel, a clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News senior medical analyst, noted that the mutations in the virus allow it to enter the upper airways more easily in the patient. However, there have been no reports of the virus being transmitted to other humans, which is a positive development.

While the mutations are concerning, experts believe that they do not represent an increased risk to the public at this time. However, continued surveillance among domestic poultry and dairy cattle is essential to monitor for any potential developments.

It is crucial to take active steps to eliminate H5N1 infections in agricultural populations and understand why wild birds continue to be infected. Each human infection represents a potential risk for the virus to mutate and spark a chain of transmission in humans, underscoring the importance of vigilance and proactive measures to prevent the spread of bird flu.

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