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With the U.S. bird flu outbreak uncontained, scientists see growing risks
https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2024/07/24/nx-s1-5049893/u-s-bird-flu-outbreak-scientists-see-growing-risksWith the U.S. bird flu outbreak uncontained, scientists see growing risks
JULY 24, 2024 6:00 AM ET
By Will Stone
For nearly four months, the spread of bird flu in the nation’s dairy cattle has stoked fears that, if left unchecked, the virus could eventually unleash a pandemic.
The recent cluster of human cases connected to poultry farms in Colorado only underscores that the threat remains real.
[...]
Certain mutations could make the virus more dangerous
Luckily, there’s no indication that we have drawn the dreaded “winning ticket.” At least not yet.
The virus working its way through dairy cattle is still fundamentally well-suited to infect birds, not people; however, there are clearly some mutations helping it maintain a foothold in mammals, says Thomas Peacock, a virologist at the Pirbright Institute in the U.K. who studies avian influenza.
[...]
JULY 24, 2024 6:00 AM ET
By Will Stone
For nearly four months, the spread of bird flu in the nation’s dairy cattle has stoked fears that, if left unchecked, the virus could eventually unleash a pandemic.
The recent cluster of human cases connected to poultry farms in Colorado only underscores that the threat remains real.
[...]
Certain mutations could make the virus more dangerous
Luckily, there’s no indication that we have drawn the dreaded “winning ticket.” At least not yet.
The virus working its way through dairy cattle is still fundamentally well-suited to infect birds, not people; however, there are clearly some mutations helping it maintain a foothold in mammals, says Thomas Peacock, a virologist at the Pirbright Institute in the U.K. who studies avian influenza.
[...]