Official announcements from the World Health Organization

California Researchers Find Mutation in H5N1 Bovine Strains Could Enable Human Transmission

Dec 5, 2024, 09:04 PM

Researchers from the Scripps Research Institute, including California-based scientists, have identified a single mutation in the H5N1 bird flu virus that could enable it to bind more effectively to human cell receptors. This mutation, found in bovine strains of the virus circulating in the United States, could potentially allow the virus to infect human upper airways and facilitate human-to-human transmission. The findings, published in the journal Science, highlight the need for heightened surveillance of both avian and bovine versions of H5N1 to mitigate the risk of a future pandemic.