Janice R. Andrews
Experts have raised alarms that bird flu, or H5N1, could be mutating to become more easily transmissible to humans, following recent cases in the United States and Canada.
In the U.S., the first severe case of 2024 involved a woman in Louisiana, aged over 65, who has underlying health issues. She was hospitalized after coming into contact with infected birds and developed severe respiratory symptoms. In Canada, a teenager from British Columbia is also being treated for serious H5N1 symptoms.
So far, 65 confirmed cases of human infection with H5N1 have been reported in 2024. However, health officials suspect the actual number may be higher, as some cases might go unnoticed, particularly among poultry and dairy farm workers.
Mutations Trigger Warnings
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently found that the virus from the Louisiana patient showed genetic mutations that could potentially help it bind more effectively to receptors in the human respiratory system.
Although these changes have not been seen in birds, the CDC emphasized that the mutations likely occurred during the patient’s illness and have not been passed to other humans. While the findings are concerning, the CDC still considers the risk to the general public to be low.
“This mutation is one of the steps needed for human transmission, but it’s not the only one,” said Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the University of Saskatchewan.
Potential for Future Pandemics
Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota, warned that bird flu could eventually develop into a pandemic that might rival or surpass the impact of COVID-19.
“There will be other influenza pandemics, and they could be far worse than COVID,” he said. “The pandemic clock is ticking, but we don’t know when it will strike.”
Widespread Outbreaks Across Regions
Bird flu has spread across several U.S. states, prompting California Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency. The virus has affected 875 dairy herds in 16 states, causing widespread damage to livestock.
In the United Kingdom, bird flu has also caused significant outbreaks. Since November, 14 locations across Britain, including turkey and poultry farms, have been affected. To control the spread, tens of thousands of infected birds have been culled, including many turkeys just before Christmas.
Ongoing Global Monitoring Needed
With H5N1 continuing to spread among birds and sporadically infecting humans, experts stress the importance of monitoring and preparedness. Though the risk to the public remains low for now, mutations like those found in the Louisiana case emphasize the need for continued vigilance.
Health organizations and governments around the world are urged to keep a close watch on the virus’s evolution and prepare for any potential escalation.
