The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified rare mutations in the first severe bird flu case reported in the country. The patient, a Louisiana resident over 65, experienced severe respiratory illness.
CDC analysis revealed mutations in the hemagglutinin (HA) gene, a critical component for the virus to attach to host cells. These mutations were not found in samples from an infected backyard flock on the patient’s property. Despite the findings, the CDC stated that the risk to the general public remains low.
The patient was infected with the D1.1 genotype, recently identified in wild birds and poultry in the United States. This differs from the B3.13 genotype previously detected in dairy cows, humans, and poultry in multiple states.
The mutations observed in the patient’s case are uncommon but have been noted in severe infections in other countries. One mutation was also reported in a severe case from British Columbia, Canada.
The CDC emphasized that no evidence of person-to-person transmission has been identified in the Louisiana case. The agency continues to monitor the outbreak and reassures that current public health precautions remain effective.
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