One genetic mutation could turn bird flu into a human pandemic!!!

Dozens in the United States have contracted bird flu transmitted from animals this year, but there is no evidence that the virus has spread from person to person.

However, a new study reveals that a single genetic mutation could make transmission between humans possible, raising concerns about the potential for a pandemic.

This mutation will enhance the virus’s ability to bind to receptors in the human airway, making it easier for the virus to infect human cells. These changes may increase the likelihood of the virus becoming transmissible between humans.

Currently, the H5N1 avian influenza virus primarily targets bird receptors, but the new study investigates how this virus adapts to human cells.

As of December 4th, 58 cases of H5N1 virus infection have been confirmed in the United States, with most confirmed human infections, about 60%, linked to exposure to infected livestock, while 36% were linked to birds. And there is no known source for the remaining infections, but it is also suspected that their origin is animal-related.

Although most human infections were mild, causing only eye redness or a cough at most, there is concern that the virus may mutate to become more lethal and more easily transmissible among humans.

The researchers focused on the hemagglutinin (HA) protein, which allows the virus to infect cells. They found that a single mutation in the hemagglutinin protein, called the Gln226Leu substitution, can change the virus’s preference from birds to humans.
These changes, although not perfect, make the virus more compatible with human cells. The study indicates that tracking this mutation will be crucial for understanding the potential of the H5N1 virus to cause a human pandemic.

Although this mutation has not yet been reported in any database, it may become more prevalent if more human infections occur, increasing the likelihood of the virus spreading among humans. Scientists are monitoring the possibility of gene exchange between the H5N1 virus and seasonal influenza viruses, which could help the virus adapt to humans.

The study emphasizes the necessity of vigilance in monitoring the H5N1 virus and observing its potential mutation into a strain capable of causing a pandemic.