FLOSSI SEARCHES FOR BIRD FLU CLUES

What is Bird Flu?

Bird flu, or avian influenza, is an infectious viral disease that primarily affects birds but can sometimes infect humans and other animals. It is caused by influenza A viruses, which are classified into various subtypes based on two proteins on the virus surface:

Hemagglutinin (H): 18 subtypes (H1 to H18)

Neuraminidase (N): 11 subtypes (N1 to N11)

The most common subtype associated with severe bird outbreaks is H5N1, but other subtypes, like H5N8 or H7N9, can also cause disease.

What is the H5N1 Virus?

H5N1 is a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus that causes severe disease in birds, particularly domestic poultry.

The virus can occasionally infect humans, especially those who have close contact with infected birds. Although human infections are rare, they can be severe or fatal.

H5N1 outbreaks are a significant concern for public health and agriculture because they potentially

cause pandemics if the virus mutates to enable sustained human-to-human transmission.

What is a Mutation in the H5N1 Virus?

A mutation changes the virus's genetic material (RNA), which can alter its behaviour. In the case of H5N1, mutations can affect:

Specific mutations may enable the virus to spread more efficiently between birds or from birds to humans.

For example, changes in the hemagglutinin (H) protein can improve the virus's ability to bind to human receptors in the respiratory tract.

Virulence:

Mutations can make the virus more or less deadly. For instance, changes in the polymerase genes may enhance the virus's ability to replicate in human cells.

Host Range:

Mutations may allow the virus to infect new species, including mammals like pigs or humans.

Drug Resistance:

Some mutations in the neuraminidase (N) protein can render antiviral drugs like oseltamivir (Tamiflu) less effective.

Why Are H5N1 Mutations a Concern?

Pandemic Potential: If the H5N1 virus acquires mutations that enable efficient human-to-human transmission, it could lead to a global pandemic.

High Mortality Rate: Human cases of H5N1 infection have a high fatality rate (approximately 50%).

Unpredictability: Mutations in RNA viruses like H5N1 occur frequently, making it challenging to predict how the virus will evolve.