Post by Nadica (She/Her) on Dec 4, 2024 1:22:58 GMT
H5N1 strain of bird flu can spread through air, study finds - Published Dec 3, 2024
Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, primarily affects birds and some cattle. However, a new study has shown that the H5N1 strain can spread through air, raising the risk of infections among humans.
A study published in Nature Microbiology has revealed concerning developments in the evolution of the H5N1 variant. Researchers focused on how the virus spreads through the air by measuring infectious virus particles from infected ferrets.
The study highlighted that recent strains of H5N1 show a mild, yet notable, increase in their ability to be transmitted via air compared to older variants.
The improved adaptation of the viruses in air is a concern, but the study showed a limited transmission pattern.
The findings drew attention to the fact that while the 2005 strain of H5N1 did not demonstrate any infectious virus particles in air samples, newer strains as recent as 2022 in a European polecat and 2024 in a US dairy worker showed limited virus in the air.
The air samples from these infected ferrets depicted a reduced, but present, ability to transmit the virus, which correlates with observed limited transmission patterns of these newer strains.
The study also noted certain genetic adaptations, such as the PB2-E627K mutation in the dairy worker strain and PB2-T271A in the polecat strain, that might enable the virus to replicate more efficiently.
These mutations could potentially facilitate limited air shedding, although the virus still favours avian-type receptors. The efficiency of air transmission remains significantly lower than that of typical human influenza viruses.
These findings are based on how efficiently human seasonal H1N1 flu viruses spread through the air in ferrets.
The current H5N1 virus strains, particularly those linked to cattle, release very little virus into the air, which helps explain why they are not easily spread between animals or humans.
However, since the virus is spreading among cattle, there is a higher risk of exposure for farm and dairy workers.
This shows the need to keep closely monitoring how the virus might change in the future.
Study link: www.nature.com/articles/s41564-024-01885-6#:~:text=Interestingly%2C%20whereas%20in%20older%20studies,and%20dairy%20cows13%2C14.
Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, primarily affects birds and some cattle. However, a new study has shown that the H5N1 strain can spread through air, raising the risk of infections among humans.
A study published in Nature Microbiology has revealed concerning developments in the evolution of the H5N1 variant. Researchers focused on how the virus spreads through the air by measuring infectious virus particles from infected ferrets.
The study highlighted that recent strains of H5N1 show a mild, yet notable, increase in their ability to be transmitted via air compared to older variants.
The improved adaptation of the viruses in air is a concern, but the study showed a limited transmission pattern.
The findings drew attention to the fact that while the 2005 strain of H5N1 did not demonstrate any infectious virus particles in air samples, newer strains as recent as 2022 in a European polecat and 2024 in a US dairy worker showed limited virus in the air.
The air samples from these infected ferrets depicted a reduced, but present, ability to transmit the virus, which correlates with observed limited transmission patterns of these newer strains.
The study also noted certain genetic adaptations, such as the PB2-E627K mutation in the dairy worker strain and PB2-T271A in the polecat strain, that might enable the virus to replicate more efficiently.
These mutations could potentially facilitate limited air shedding, although the virus still favours avian-type receptors. The efficiency of air transmission remains significantly lower than that of typical human influenza viruses.
These findings are based on how efficiently human seasonal H1N1 flu viruses spread through the air in ferrets.
The current H5N1 virus strains, particularly those linked to cattle, release very little virus into the air, which helps explain why they are not easily spread between animals or humans.
However, since the virus is spreading among cattle, there is a higher risk of exposure for farm and dairy workers.
This shows the need to keep closely monitoring how the virus might change in the future.
Study link: www.nature.com/articles/s41564-024-01885-6#:~:text=Interestingly%2C%20whereas%20in%20older%20studies,and%20dairy%20cows13%2C14.