The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.) has reported some concerning mutations in bird flu virus samples from a patient in southwest Louisiana, who was the first person to be hospitalized with severe bird flu in the US. The mutations could help the virus infect cells in the upper respiratory tract more easily.
However, scientists say these changes did not occur frequently and seem to develop as the virus adapted to its human host. This suggests that viruses in nature have not yet acquired these concerning mutations. Yet, every additional human case increases the opportunity for the virus to adapt and spread among people.
One expert warned that if there are many infected humans, it could lead to gene swapping between H5N1 and seasonal flu viruses, making bird flu capable of spreading efficiently among people.
Scores of people in the US have contracted bird flu this year, mostly from infected cows or poultry. Pasturized dairy products remain safe to consume.
The discovery has prompted a state of emergency in California and increased egg prices nationwide. An Oregon house cat died after eating contaminated pet food, leading to a recall of affected products.
A vaccination plan is needed to prevent human infections. “Vaccinating people at high exposure risk could be effective in reducing the number of human infections,” said Dr. Angela Rasmussen, a virologist.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/27/health/bird-flu-mutations-louisiana.html