Nature, 27 January 2025
Risk of bird-flu pandemic in people is rising
At least 68 people in North America have become ill from the H5N1 avian influenza virus and one person has died. Most of these illnesses were mild, but emerging data indicate that variants of the virus can cause severe disease and death, especially when passed directly to people from birds. (Nature Briefing)
Will bird flu spark a human pandemic? Scientists say the risk is rising
H5N1 is adapting to new mammalian hosts, raising the possibility of the virus spreading between humans.
Ten months on from the shocking discovery that a virus usually carried by wild birds can readily infect cows, at least 68 people in North America have become ill from the pathogen and one person has died.