A major breakthrough in understanding a deadly flu virus has researchers optimistic about their ability to prevent future outbreaks. For nearly 40 years, scientists have tracked H5N1 viruses in birds at Delaware Bay, but this year’s data shows something unexpected – the virus was not detected in bird droppings.
According to Dr. Lisa Kercher, director of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital laboratory operations, researchers are stumped by the sudden absence of the virus. However, this finding has raised hopes that scientists may have more time to prepare for potential outbreaks.
H5N1 is one of the deadliest flu viruses known to infect birds, and its ability to spread quickly has made it a global health priority. But recent surveillance reveals an interesting twist: the virus appears to be evolving through reassortment, where two different viruses swap genes. Researchers are investigating how this affects the spread of the virus.
A new study by Dr. Louise Moncla from the University of Pennsylvania found that a 2021 H5N1 outbreak in North America was driven by eight separate introductions of the virus by migrating waterfowl and shorebirds along the Atlantic and Pacific flyways. Unlike previous outbreaks, this strain has continued to circulate because wild birds have introduced it into both farmed and backyard poultry populations.
Moncla’s team concluded that wild birds are emerging as a key “reservoir” for H5N1 in North America, and monitoring migrating birds is crucial to prevent future outbreaks. Despite the challenges, researchers remain hopeful, knowing that their data can offer an early warning for potential outbreaks.
By studying the bird population and how the virus spreads, researchers aim to better understand normal patterns and detect when something changes. Dr. Richard Webby said, “To predict bad things – whether it’s a pandemic or a tornado – you’ve got to understand normal now.”
Source: https://www.thecooldown.com/green-tech/h5n1-in-migratory-birds-delaware-bay-delaware