Avian flu virus in a U.S. Patient mutates: no evidence of human-to-human transmission

Spread the love


A patient over the age of 65 was hospitalized in Louisiana more than a week ago.

The avian flu virus detected in a critically ill patient in the United States has mutated, adapting more effectively to human respiratory pathways. While this mutation raises concerns, U.S. authorities emphasize that there is currently no evidence the virus in its mutated form has spread to other individuals.

The patient, hospitalized in Louisiana, presented with severe respiratory symptoms associated with H5N1 avian flu after contact with sick and deceased poultry.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analyzed the virus and identified genetic changes in a portion of the virus found in the patient’s throat. These mutations enhance the virus’s ability to bind to specific receptors in the upper respiratory tract of humans.

However, the same genetic changes were not observed in the poultry kept by the patient. CDC experts believe these mutations likely occurred as the virus replicated within the patient, who was already suffering from advanced illness. Experts consulted by AFP caution that it is too early to determine whether these mutations make the virus more transmissible or capable of causing severe disease in humans.

“This specific mutation is one step toward increasing the virus’s transmissibility,” stated Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Canada’s University of Saskatchewan. She added, however, that it is not the sole factor required for such a development.

Thijs Kuiken, a researcher at Erasmus MC University Medical Center in the Netherlands, echoed this sentiment. He explained that while the virus’s ability to bind effectively to cells in the human upper respiratory tract is critical, it is not sufficient for efficient human-to-human transmission. Successful replication of the virus involves several additional steps in the human cell cycle.

Rasmussen expressed greater concern about the overall spread of avian flu than about this specific case in Louisiana. In 2024, the CDC reported 65 confirmed cases of avian flu in humans across the U.S., with more cases likely going undetected, particularly among workers in poultry and dairy facilities.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

WORLD

Measles Epidemic in the U.S. Reaches 30-Year High

Spread the love

Spread the loveThe United States is grappling with its most severe measles outbreak in over thirty years, with experts linking this alarming rise to falling vaccination rates and a growing distrust in public health organizations. According to data released on Monday by Johns Hopkins University, the nation has seen more than 1,277 cases so far […]

Read More
WORLD

Germany Battles Worsening Wildfires, State of Emergency Declared in Four Districts

Spread the love

Spread the loveGermany is facing a serious wildfire crisis, with several eastern regions declaring a state of emergency as flames sweep through forests, endanger protected habitats, and even set off explosions from buried munitions. According to the German press agency DPA, hundreds of firefighters have been mobilized to tackle this escalating situation. Unexploded Ordnance Complicates […]

Read More
WORLD

The World Health Organization (WHO) is calling on governments to significantly increase taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks

Spread the love

Spread the loveThe World Health Organization (WHO) is suggesting a significant price increase of at least 50% through excise duties by 2035. This announcement came from a recent report, as reported by the DPA news agency. The WHO believes that the additional revenue generated could be used to combat major non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular diseases, […]

Read More