The bird flu outbreak has infected millions of birds and hundreds of herds in the US. While there is currently no evidence of human-to-human transmission, experts are concerned about the potential for the virus to mutate and become more transmissible.
In the nearly nine months since the first human case of bird flu was detected in the United States, the virus has continued to spread. The outbreak infected hundreds of herds and millions of birds before it spread to humans. As of Jan. 6, there have been 66 human cases of bird flu reported in 10 states, according towas reported in Louisiana. The patient was over the age of 65 and had underlying medical conditions, according to health officials.
The CDC says there is currently no evidence of human-to-human transmission and the risk to the general public is low. However, public health experts say they are worried the virus could mutate and become more transmissible, amplifying the need to ramp up testing and to stockpile vaccines. Dr. Tony Moody, a professor of pediatrics and infectious diseases specialist at Duke University, said the fact that cases have yet to pass from human to human is 'both reassuring, but not completely reassuring.' He told ABC News, 'What we're concerned about is that, eventually, we might get a variation of this strain that could pass from person to person. That's really what we're going to need to see, I think, to get substantial human cases and the potential for a new pandemic strain.' He added, 'So, in terms of peering into the crystal ball for 2025…I think the concern is whether or not we're going to see something change that will turn it into a pandemic strain that could then really be a problem,' he added.One fear experts have is that the virus will continue to mutate in a way that will cause more human-to-human transmissibility. The experts say that every new human case of bird flu allows the virus an opportunity to mutate.found mutations in samples of bird flu collected from the Louisiana patient. What's more, the mutations were not found in poultry samples collected on the patient's property, suggesting the changes appeared after the patient became infecte
Bird Flu Outbreak Mutations Human Transmission Pandemic
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