GHealth News – The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed that the bird flu virus mutated inside a Louisiana patient, who represents the nation’s first severe case of the illness. These mutations may enhance the virus’s ability to bind to receptors in human upper airways, a development that scientists find concerning but not immediately alarming.
Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert, likened the mutation to a “key” that fits a “lock” on human cells but emphasized that it doesn’t yet “open the door” for human-to-human transmission.
The patient, over 65 and with underlying health conditions, was hospitalized in critical condition after exposure to sick and dead birds in a backyard flock. The CDC confirmed no evidence of virus transmission to others and stated that the risk to the public remains low.
Despite this, experts warn of the need for vigilant monitoring, as mutations could pose future risks. Osterholm highlighted that influenza pandemics are inevitable, though the timing remains unpredictable.
(AP)
