Patient in Louisiana who was hospitalized with Severe bird flu disease The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced last week that a mutated version of the virus had been found.
The fact that the virus has mutated within the patient means that this can happen Possibly spreads from man to man.
The CDC analyzed samples of the H5N1 virus collected from the patient, comparing its genomic sequence to that of dairy cows, wild birds, chickens and other animals, the agency said.
Bird flu leads to serious human illness and emergencies
“The analysis identified low-frequency mutations in the hemagglutinin gene of samples sequenced from the patient, which were not detected in virus sequences from poultry samples collected on the patient’s property,” the CDC said. changes that emerge in the patient after infection”.
“Although these low-frequency mutations are rare in humans, they have been reported in and often during previous cases of A(H5N1) in other countries. Acute illness”
Based on the discovery of these genetic changes in the virus, health officials recommend “ongoing genomic surveillance” in people and animals, taking steps to control it. A bird flu outbreak between dairy cattle and poultry, and taking measures to prevent transmission when exposed to infected animals or the environment.
Bird flu causes the death of cats and zoo animals as the virus spreads in the United States
The CDC says the risk to the general public is still low.
Samuel Scarpino, director of AI and life sciences and professor of health sciences at Northeastern University in Boston, confirmed to Fox News Digital, “Those same mutations were not present in the viral genomes sampled from backyard birds that likely affected the individual.”
The CDC analyzed samples of the H5N1 virus collected from the patient, comparing its genomic sequence to that of dairy cows, wild birds, chickens and other animals. (iStock)
“Because the mutations were present in the human patient, but not Backyard Birdsthis suggests that the mutations arose during the infection of this individual.”
Dr. Mark Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and senior medical analyst for Fox News, commented on the significance of the discovery, told Fox News Digital.
“Each human infection represents a spin of the epidemic roulette wheel.”
“It is somewhat alarming that the H5N1 bird flu virus found in the Louisiana patient showed a mutation that allowed it to more easily enter the patient’s upper airways,” he told Fox News Digital. But this change has been seen before.”
The good news, the doctor noted, is that there have been no reports of it. Louisiana patient Transmitting the virus to other humans.
“It’s important that surveillance of domestic poultry and dairy cattle be expanded,” Dr. Mark Siegel told Fox News Digital. (Photo by Ole Deke/Image Alliance via Getty Images)
Based on previous research, “we know the variability in humans in terms of proliferative capacity,” Siegel said.
“It is important that surveillance of domestic poultry and dairy cattle is extensive,” he added.
Click here to get the Fox News app.
Scarpino agreed that while the mutations are “concerning,” they “may not represent an increased risk to the public.”
“Similar events—mutations arising during infection that increase risk in humans—occurred with individuals who Infected with H5N1 This has happened multiple times in Canada from wild birds and during previous H5N1 outbreaks outside of the US and Canada,” he told Fox News Digital.
One expert warned that the more opportunities the virus has to infect people, the more likely it is that similar mutations will occur and trigger a “change of transmission” in humans. (iStock)
“To date, it does not appear that the person in Louisiana has transmitted the infection to other people.”
Click here to sign up for our health newsletter.
However, the doctor warned that the more opportunities the virus has to infect people, the more likely it is that similar mutations will occur and trigger a “change of transmission” in humans.
For more health related articles visit www.foxnews.com/health
“Each human infection represents a spin of the pandemic roulette wheel,” Scarpino said.
“We need to take proactive measures to eliminate H5N1 infections. Agricultural population And better understand why so many wild birds continue to be affected.”