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What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
NEW DELHI: Avian influenza, also known as bird flu, predominantly affects birds and some cattle. However, recent research indicates that the H5N1 strain can be transmitted through the air, raising concerns about potential human infections. Focusing on its airborne transmission capabilities, a study published in Nature Microbiology has revealed significant developments in the evolution of the H5N1 variant.
Researchers measured infectious virus particles from infected ferrets, revealing that recent strains of H5N1 show a slight but notable increase in their ability to be transmitted via air compared to older variants. This adaptation poses a concern, although the study demonstrated a limited transmission pattern.
The study noted that while the 2005 strain of H5N1 did not show any infectious virus particles in air samples, newer strains from 2022 in a European polecat and 2024 in a US dairy worker exhibited limited airborne virus presence. These air samples from infected ferrets indicated a reduced, yet present, ability to transmit the virus, aligning with observed limited transmission patterns of these newer strains.
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Genetic adaptations, such as the PB2-E627K mutation in the dairy worker strain and PB2-T271A in the polecat strain, might enable the virus to replicate more efficiently. These mutations could potentially facilitate limited air shedding, although the virus still predominantly targets avian-type receptors. The efficiency of air transmission remains significantly lower than that of typical human influenza viruses.
These findings are based on comparisons with the transmission efficiency of human seasonal H1N1 flu viruses in ferrets. The current H5N1 virus strains, particularly those associated with cattle, release very little virus into the air, explaining their limited spread between animals or humans. However, as the virus circulates among cattle, the risk of exposure for farm and dairy workers increases.
This underscores the need for close monitoring of the virus’s evolution. The study highlights the importance of ongoing vigilance and research to understand how the virus may change in the future. Public health measures and biosecurity protocols must adapt to these findings to mitigate the risk of a potential human outbreak.
