All articles tagged with #human transmission
A CDC review reveals that human H5N1 avian flu can be asymptomatic and may spread between people, highlighting gaps in current surveillance and the need for more robust data collection to inform public health responses.
A study by the Scripps Research Institute reveals that a single mutation in the H5N1 bird flu virus could enable it to bind to human cell receptors, raising concerns about potential human transmission. Although this mutation has not been detected, the research highlights the need for vigilant surveillance and pandemic preparedness. The study underscores the complexity of viral mutations and the importance of understanding the factors that could lead to a more virulent strain capable of human-to-human transmission.
Researchers at the Scripps Research Institute have found that a single mutation in the H5N1 bird flu virus could enable it to infect humans, raising concerns about a potential pandemic. The study, published in Science, highlights that a change in the hemagglutinin protein could allow the virus to target human cells. This discovery challenges previous beliefs that multiple mutations were necessary for human transmission. Despite over 50 human infections, the virus has not yet adapted for widespread human transmission, suggesting additional mutations may be needed.
The World Health Organization has expressed deep concern over the increasing spread of H5N1 bird flu to new species, including humans, with an "extraordinarily high" mortality rate. The virus has affected millions of poultry, wild birds, and even mammals, including cows and goats. While there is currently no evidence of human-to-human transmission, the WHO is urging enhanced monitoring and preparedness for potential adaptation of the virus to humans. Efforts are underway to develop vaccines and therapeutics, with a focus on ensuring equitable access to these resources globally.
A study has found evidence that Alzheimer's disease may have been transmitted between humans through a now-banned medical procedure, raising concerns about the potential for other diseases to be spread in a similar manner. The procedure, involving the use of contaminated surgical instruments, was common in the mid-20th century and has since been linked to the transmission of other diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C. The findings highlight the need for strict protocols to prevent the transmission of diseases through medical procedures and the importance of ongoing research into the risks associated with such practices.
New research suggests that strains of the monkeypox virus, now officially called mpox, have been circulating between humans since at least 2016, years before the global epidemic in 2022. The findings challenge the previous understanding that mpox is primarily a zoonotic disease transmitted from animals to humans. The study reveals that the virus has been evolving and adapting to humans, indicating sustained human transmission for a longer period than previously known. This discovery has implications for future outbreaks and highlights the need for global surveillance and vigilance to eliminate and prevent the reemergence of mpox.
A subtype of avian flu virus in China is undergoing mutational changes that could increase the risk of transmission to humans, potentially leading to an epidemic or pandemic. The virus has shown adaptive changes that allow it to cause severe infections in animals and be transmitted through respiratory droplets. The avian H3N8 virus has acquired human receptor binding preference and amino acid substitution necessary for airborne transmission. Human populations, even those vaccinated against human H3N2 virus, may be vulnerable to infection. Researchers emphasize the need for continued monitoring and research on these viruses in poultry and humans.
Chile has reported its first case of bird flu in a human, a 53-year-old man who is in stable condition. The government is investigating the source of contagion and those who were in contact with the patient. Chile has reported cases of the H5N1 bird flu in wild animals since late last year, and recent cases in industrial farms caused the government to halt poultry exports. While the virus can be transmitted from birds or marine mammals to humans, there is no known human-to-human transmission. Vaccine makers have been preparing bird flu shots for humans "just in case."