United States: Bird flu has been spreading in the United States for nearly nine months since the first human case was detected. As of January 6, there have been 66 human cases in 10 states, mostly from contact with sick birds or livestock. The virus also infected hundreds of herds and millions of birds before it spread to humans.
On Tuesday, death of the first human bird flu patient was confirmed in Louisiana. Health officials said the patient was over the age of cut off and had co-morbidities.
As reported by the abc news, the CDC is keen to state that there is no indication of human-to-human transmission and the dangers are minimal.
But health officials have also expressed concern that the virus could become airborne and more infectious, strengthening the call for increasing testing and procuring vaccines.
First US death reported from H5N1 bird flu in Louisiana https://t.co/JCGArlaUV5 #RTmagazine #flu #birdflu #avianflu #healthcare
— RT Magazine (@RTmagazine) January 8, 2025
Dr Tony Moody, a pediatrics professor and an infectious diseases specialist at the Duke University, however remained confident saying the fact that they haven’t jumped directly from people to people is ‘a bit comforting but it is not very comforting’.
To ABC news, he said this; “What we are worried about is that in the end we might be exposed to a form of this strain that is transmitted from one person to another. That’s where I think we’re going to need to see much stronger human cases and really potential for new pandemic strain.
He said: “So, in input regarding the peering into the crystal ball to 2025… I think the worry is whether or not we’re going to see something change it into a pandemic strain that could then really be an issue,” he said.
WHO Says Bird Flu Risk Remains Low After First H5N1 Death in UShttps://t.co/ZTonCfAgqz
— California Insider News (@CAInsiderNews) January 8, 2025
This fact is explained by the mere presence of AIDS that additionally produces constant fears of mutation or a combination virus.
Another concern is that it will take on characteristics that bring it closer to the acuteness of the SARS virus; it may also adapt a greater pathogenicity coefficient and become ‘airborne’. The experts have opined that every human case of bird flu gives the virus a chance to mutate.
New data published by CDC also confirmed that mutations were present in samples taken from the Louisiana patient bird flu. Moreover, the mutations were not detected in samples obtained from the poultry in patient’s property, which indicates that they developed after the patient contracted the disease.