Scientists are now on high alert for symptoms of human to human transmission of the H5N1 avian flu virus which is rapidly spreading among animals in the United States. Despite infecting dozens of people in the United States, a fresh study suggests that the virus may only need one mutation to spread between humans rapidly and to cause a global pandemic.
After the virus was discovered in some of the dairy products, California launched a widespread suspension of raw milk and cream by raising concerns about whether it could trigger another pandemic and lockdown. The CDC reports that 32 human cases of bird flu including the first in a child in the United States have occurred in California this year but there is no link with raw milk. In total there have been 58 in the United States.
H5N1 is a lethal virus that kills 50% of those who become affected. Experts believe that closely monitoring animal infections is important for controlling the virus to prevent its evolution and stopping it from directly affecting humans thus preventing a pandemic outbreak.
Normally, avian flu requires many mutations to pose a threat to people. However scientists at the Scripps Research Institute in California who published the research paper believe that this time, the virus may adapt more quickly by increasing fears about the prospect of another global pandemic. According to the research, there are no confirmed cases so far of H5N1 transmission between people to people. But there are three cases in North America where a toddler in California, a teenager in Canada and an individual in Missouri are receiving special attention because it is unknown how they were introduced to the virus.
Bird flu cases so far in humans have been connected to closer contact with contaminated environments as well as sick birds including poultry, dairy cows and other animals. However, public health officials are concerned that the virus may evolve to transmit quickly between humans resulting in a new potentially fatal pandemic.
A protein known as hemagglutinin connects to glycan receptors on the surface of host cells allowing the flu virus to attach itself to its host. Certain viruses can bind to glycans which are chains of sugar molecules found on cell surface proteins. H5N1 and other avian influenza viruses mostly infect hosts through avian type receptors which are glycan receptors that include sialic acid.
They may be able to infect and perhaps spread among humans if they develop the ability to recognize human type sialylated glycan receptors as viruses often adapt to humans.
