Ammon News - A new case of severe bird flu in Louisiana has raised concerns about potential mutations in the H5N1 virus. The 65-year-old patient, who is in critical condition after contracting the virus from a backyard flock, has been identified as the first known case of severe bird flu in the United States.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), genetic analysis of the patient’s sample revealed mutations in the hemagglutinin (HA) gene, which plays a crucial role in the virus's ability to attach to host cells. These mutations were not present in samples from the infected birds at the patient’s home.

The mutations discovered in the Louisiana patient’s viral sample have raised questions about whether the virus could become more easily transmissible between humans. The HA gene, which facilitates the virus's attachment to cell receptors, underwent changes that may enhance the virus's ability to bind to receptors in the human upper respiratory tract.


The Economic Times