Bird Flu Pandemic Fears: Experts Warn H5N1 Virus May Only Need ONE Mutation to Spread Among Humans

The H5N1 bird flu virus is spreading rapidly among animals in the United States, prompting scientists to closely monitor for signs of human-to-human transmission. Recent research suggests that the virus may only require one mutation to transmit between humans, raising concerns about a potential pandemic ¹. H5N1 is a highly deadly virus, killing 50% of humans who become infected, and experts believe that closely monitoring animal infections is crucial to control the virus, halt its mutation, and prevent direct human infection.
Currently, there are no documented cases of H5N1 transmitting between people, with human cases linked to close contact with contaminated environments and infected birds, dairy cows, and other animals ¹. However, public health officials are concerned about the virus’s potential to evolve and transmit efficiently between humans, which could lead to a new, potentially deadly pandemic.
The flu virus attaches to its host via a protein called hemagglutinin, which binds to glycan receptors on host cells ¹. Avian influenza viruses like H5N1 primarily infect hosts with sialic acid-containing glycan receptors found in birds, but if they evolve to recognize human-type receptors, they could gain the ability to infect and transmit between humans ¹. Monitoring changes in receptor specificity is crucial, as receptor binding is a key step toward transmissibility.