The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that its analysis of samples from the first severe bird flu case reported in the country has revealed mutations in the virus’s hemagglutinin (HA) gene. This gene plays a critical role in the virus’s ability to attach to host cells.
The case, identified in a Louisiana resident over the age of 65, involved severe respiratory illness. The patient was infected with the D1.1 genotype of the virus, which has recently been detected in wild birds and poultry in the U.S., rather than the B3.13 genotype found in dairy cows, humans, and some poultry across multiple states.
The mutations observed in the patient’s sample are rare but have been reported in severe cases in other countries. One of the mutations aligns with a severe case previously identified in British Columbia, Canada.
Despite these findings, the CDC reassured the public that the overall risk from the outbreak remains low, with no evidence of person-to-person transmission from the Louisiana patient.
The CDC continues to monitor the situation closely, emphasizing that while these genetic changes are noteworthy, they do not necessarily indicate an increased risk to the general population.
