US Bird Flu Case Shows Mutations, But No Human-to-Human Transmission Detected
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced the discovery of mutations in the avian influenza virus from the first severe human case in the United States. This finding naturally raises concerns, especially given the timing and the backdrop of previous global health crises. The mutations detected in the patient’s sample were not present in the birds on their property, suggesting the mutations occurred after the initial infection, rather than pre-existing in the virus that caused the infection.
These mutations, while rare, have been observed in other severe cases across the globe. One specific mutation mirrored a finding from a severe case in British Columbia, Canada.… Continue reading
Matt Underwood