A new strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has emerged in Nevada’s dairy cows, sparking concerns among officials and scientists about its potential impact on humans. The mutant virus, genotype D1.1, is found in migratory wild birds but has not previously been detected in cattle.
The virus is responsible for severe human cases of bird flu, including a near-fatal case in Canada and the first human death related to bird flu in North America. While there is no evidence that the H5N1 virus can spread from person to person, some scientists believe the risk of a future pandemic is increasing as the pathogen spends more time in mammalian bodies.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has identified the mutant strain in Nevada dairy cattle and is investigating how it spread. The agency has taken swift action, rapidly enrolling affected dairies in the National Milk Testing Strategy to monitor the spread of the virus and prevent further transmission.
Despite low risk to most people, some scientists are monitoring the situation closely due to concerns about a potential pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) is also keeping an eye on the mutations, as they believe the pathogen could become more contagious over time.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/new-strain-of-bird-flu-in-nevada-reveals-a-concerning-mutation