Scientists keep tabs on bird flu's silent mutations

 

Microscopic image of H5N1 virus particles and headline:  

Advent Health, 1/10/2024

Sporadic mentions of H5N1 bird flu in newsfeeds just weeks ago have turned into what might seem like a flurry of headlines on any given day. 

Health officials said Monday that a Louisiana patient who had been hospitalized with H5N1 died, marking the first U.S. death from the disease. 

Many view bird flu as a looming public health threat given that 66 cases have been diagnosed in humans in the past 10 months. 

Vincent Hsu, MD, an infectious disease specialist and infection control officer for AdventHealth, sees the outbreak as an opportunity to apply existing influenza knowledge -- particularly the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.

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