Experts express concerns over mutated H5N1 virus and growing cat infections in the US
A new mutation of the H5N1 bird flu virus has been discovered in a critically ill patient in the US, raising concerns among health experts. The mutation, which enhances the virus’s ability to bind to human respiratory cells, was found in a patient from Louisiana, who had been in critical condition since early December. While there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission of this mutated strain, authorities are monitoring the situation closely.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that the genetic changes were present in a small portion of the virus found in the patient’s throat, suggesting it may have evolved to better infect human airways. However, these mutations have not been seen in birds, including the patient’s presumed source of infection, a backyard poultry flock. Experts caution that it is too early to predict whether this mutation will lead to more severe or transmissible forms of the virus.
Aside from the mutation, the growing number of bird flu cases in cats has raised alarm. In Oregon, a cat died after consuming contaminated pet food, while 20 big cats at a Washington sanctuary also succumbed to the virus. Experts warn that infected outdoor cats could inadvertently transmit the virus to humans through close contact.
With 65 confirmed human cases of bird flu in the US in 2024, experts emphasize the need for caution, as the virus continues to spread and may potentially combine with seasonal influenza, increasing the risk of a pandemic.
