Bird Flu: One Mutation Away from Potential Human Transmission

A new study from the Scripps Research Institute highlights the potential for the H5N1 bird flu virus to mutate and become transmissible between humans, raising pandemic concerns. Researchers found that a single amino acid mutation, Q226L, could enable the virus to bind to human-type receptors, increasing the risk of human-to-human transmission. While this mutation alone may not be sufficient for widespread transmission, it underscores the importance of monitoring genetic changes in the virus to prevent a potential pandemic.