H5N1 mutation may make it easier for virus to latch to human cells: Study

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

SCIENTISTS ARE WARNING THE BIRD FLU VIRUS MAY BE ABLE TO MORE EASILY SPREAD TO HUMAN CELLS THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT. 

RESEARCHERS WITH SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOUND IT MAY TAKE JUST A SINGLE MUTATION FOR THIS VERSION OF H5N1 TO BECOME CAPABLE OF LATCHING ONTO HUMAN CELLS.

IN A STUDY PUBLISHED THURSDAY – SCIENTISTS NOTED THE VIRUS COULD ATTACH TO PEOPLE’S CELLS THROUGH PROTEINS IN A WAY MUCH SIMPLER THAN PREVIOUSLY KNOWN. 

A PROFESSOR OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES AT VANDERBILT CALLING THE FINDINGS “SOBERING” BUT POINTS OUT THE MUTATION HAS NOT BEEN OBSERVED BY OTHER RESEARCHERS DESPITE REPEATED EFFORTS.

THE AUTHORS OF THE STUDY BELIEVE DESPITE THE LACK OF PEER EVIDENCE – THAT THE MUTATION IS LIKELY ALREADY OCCURRING IN THE CURRENT STRAIN OF BIRD FLU. 

THE RESEARCH COMES AS NEARLY 60 AMERICANS HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR H-5-N-1.

ALTHOUGH THERE IS YET TO BE A CONFIRMED CASE OF HUMAN-TO-HUMAN TRANSMISSION.

AS STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED, THE VIRUSHAS SPREAD TO MORE THAN 700 DAIRY HERDS NATIONWIDE WITH CALIFORNIA AT THE EPICENTER WITH AROUND 500 INFECTED HERDS.

HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE URGING FARM WORKERS TO WEAR PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.

THAT’S BECAUSE MOST HUMAN BIRD FLU CASES HAVE BEEN PEOPLE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH LIVESTOCK.

THE GOLDEN STATE ALSO ISSUED A STATEWIDE VOLUNTARY RECALL OF RAW MILK THIS WEEK AFTER DISCOVERING BIRD FLU CONTAMINATION IN RETAIL SAMPLES OF RAW MILK.

THE F-D-A WARNS AGAINST CONSUMING RAW MILK BECAUSE OF BIRD FLU AND OTHER ILLNESSES ASSOCIATED WITH ITS CONSUMPTION.

FOR MORE ON THIS STORY– DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM. 

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS–I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.