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Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], June 12 (ANI): The World Health Organisation has confirmed the human case of <keyword id="3653784" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bird-flu-in-india" source="Orion">bird flu in India</keyword>, after the <keyword id="15897682" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="H9N2-virus" source="Orion">H9N2 virus</keyword> was detected in a four-year child in West Bengal. Overall, this is the second <keyword id="21166335" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="human-infection" source="keywords">human infection</keyword> of <keyword id="2663051" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Avian-Influenza-A" source="Orion">avian influenza A</keyword> (H9N2) notified to WHO from India, with the first being done in 2019. The child has recovered and was discharged from the hospital. WHO received a notification from the International Health Regulations (IHR) National Focal Point (NFP) for India, regarding a human case of avian influenza A(H9N2) virus infection in West Bengal, the health body said in a press release. "The patient is a 4-year-old child residing in West Bengal state. The case, previously diagnosed with hyperreactive airway disease, initially presented to the paediatrician with fever and abdominal pain on 26 January 2024. He developed seizures on January 29 after which he was brought to the same paediatrician. The patient was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) of a local hospital due to the persistence of severe respiratory distress, recurrent high-grade fever and abdominal cramps. The patient tested positive for influenza B and adenovirus. He was discharged from the hospital on February 28 but with a recurrence of severe respiratory distress, he was referred to another government hospital and was admitted to the pediatric ICU and intubated on March 3. His nasopharyngeal swab was sent to the Kolkata Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory and tested positive for influenza A (not sub-typed) and rhinovirus. On April 26, the sample was sub-typed as influenza A(H9N2) through a real-time polymerase chain reaction. The patient was discharged from the hospital with oxygen support on May 1. WHO said that the infected patient had exposure to poultry at home and in the surroundings. It, however, also affirmed there were no known persons reporting symptoms of respiratory illness in the family, the neighbourhood, or among healthcare workers at health facilities attended by the case at the time of reporting. The health body further warned that sporadic human cases could occur in the future as this virus is "one of the most prevalent avian influenza viruses circulating in poultry in different regions." Animal influenza viruses normally circulate in animals but can also infect humans. Infections in humans have primarily been acquired through direct contact with infected animals or through indirect contact with contaminated environments. Depending on the original host, influenza A viruses can be classified as avian influenza, swine influenza, or other types of animal influenza viruses, the WHO stated in the release. The health body further said that it is providing continued support to the government of India through technical advice, updates on risk assessment and updating contingency plans- both in the human and animal sectors in line with the global guidance.

WHO confirms human case of bird flu in India! H9N2 virus detected in a four-year child in West Bengal

<keyword id="20154" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="tamil-nadu" source="Orion">Tamil Nadu</keyword> Health Minister <keyword id="344917" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ma-subramanian" source="Orion">Ma Subramanian</keyword> inspected the mass fever camp on Friday organised in the <keyword id="6361743" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="saidapet" source="Orion">Saidapet</keyword> area in Chennai. Chennai Mayor <keyword id="3346795" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="priya-rajan" source="Orion">Priya Rajan</keyword> also joined the Health Minister in inspecting the camps. "About 1000 fever camps have been set up all over Tamil Nadu of which 200 fever camps are in Chennai," Health Minister said. Recently, H3N2 virus fever broke out across the country sparking concerns. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in a statement asked the administrations all over to comply with the safety protocols and take necessary precautions. People have been instructed to wear masks and maintain proper hygiene to avoid the virus infection. "Apart from the fever camps, about 11,333 public health centres in the state have been instructed to conduct frequent fever check-ups," said the minister in the statement. "We have adequate medicines for the fever. As of now, there are no severe cases and there is no need to panic." The Health Minister added, "According to ICMR, we have to be cautious with H3N2 virus spread like we were during the Covid Pandemic. People with fever symptoms should isolate themselves as per ICMR guidelines to prevent spread." Reportedly, corona cases have also been increasing in Tamil Nadu and also India, in general. "RTPCR tests are done and the number of tests has been increased. There were only 2 cases last month but now it's 20 to 25 cases in Tamil Nadu and we are preparing to curtail it," assured the Health Minister. Health Minister also said, "As of now it's not a community spread of H3N2 virus in Tamil Nadu. We are taking precautions to make sure it does not spread rapidly and turn into a community spread. I appeal to the people of Tamil Nadu to avoid going to public places if they identify themselves with the symptoms and immediately inform the authorities." According to the administration, the mega fever camps will continue their operations on Saturday, Sunday and also in the coming days in the state. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/long-covid-much-less-likely-after-omicron-infection-study/articleshow/98539407.cms">Long Covid much less likely after Omicron infection: Study</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/karnataka-records-its-first-h3n2-variant-death/articleshow/98539607.cms">Karnataka records its first H3N2 variant death</a>

H3N2 virus: Tamil Nadu sets up 1,000 mega fever camps

With the sudden increase of influenza A subtype H3N2 cases across the country raising concerns, a health expert at Delhi's Sir <keyword id="4014646" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="gangaram-hospital" source="Orion">Gangaram Hospital</keyword> on Thursday pointed out that the pattern of viruses has changed remarkably and unexpectedly in the past six months. Hospitals across the country are reporting thousands of cases of H3N2 influenza. According to <keyword id="6195115" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="dr-dhiren-gupta" source="Orion">Dr Dhiren Gupta</keyword>, Senior Consultant, department of paediatric emergency and critical care, Sir <keyword id="222793" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="gangaram" source="Orion">Gangaram</keyword> hospital, said, "Over the past 6 months pattern of viruses has changed remarkably and unexpectedly. Normally, we expect influenza as the number 1 virus which can lead to hospitalisation. This time Influenza A virus subtype H3N2 has led to a lot of respiratory tract infections." <keyword id="1989242" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="dr-gupta" source="Orion">Dr Gupta</keyword> further said, "Another observation- type B influenza (past two months 5 leading to <keyword id="1334956" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="picu" source="Orion">PICU</keyword> admission) has led to more severe pulmonary infections in form of ARDS, severe pneumonia requiring ventilation." He said that another virus which is leading to serious disease is an adenovirus. "Over the past 2 months, there is a significant rise in adenovirus leading to intensive care unit admission. (11 patients required PICU over two months (Jan, Feb 2023) vs 17 in last 1 year (Jan till December 2022)," he pointed out. Further explaining adenovirus, Dr Gupta said that DNA virus mainly affects the upper respiratory tract, and eyes and spreads like COVID. "Adenovirus is a DNA virus, with more than 60 subtypes, severe disease has been associated with serotype 7, 14, serotype 5, 21, 14. Mainly affect the upper respiratory tract, and eyes. It can cause pneumonia in immunocompromised. Spread like COVID. Previously thought that this virus mainly affects less than two years and immunocompromised but this year its behaviour was very different, Cidofovir can be used in progressive disease in immunocompromised." he explained. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/google-will-promote-fewer-employees-to-senior-roles-in-2023/articleshow/98516065.cms">Google will promote fewer employees to senior roles in 2023</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/this-startup-founder-who-ran-away-from-home-at-15-builds-a-100-crore-business/articleshow/98513355.cms">This startup founder who ran away from home at 15, builds a ₹100 crore business</a>

Virus patterns changed in last 6 months, says expert as India reports thousands of H3N2 cases

<keyword id="66" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="delhi" source="Orion">Delhi</keyword> hospitals are witnessing a spike in cases of the H3N2 virus that triggers symptoms like fever, cold and body aches, but in certain cases, leaves behind persistent cough making patients extremely weak, doctors said. There has been a nearly 150 per cent rise in patients coming to OPDs with such complaints, they said. Elaborating on the possible reasons behind the surge, Dr Viny Kantroo, Consultant, Respiratory, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine Consultant at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, said the outbreak could have been triggered due by seasonal change, mutation of the virus and the economy being fully open. "Children are going to school and they are transmitting it to the elderly. A lot of cross-country travel is happening. In the last two years, <keyword id="8764262" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="covid" source="Orion">Covid</keyword> was the dominant virus and there were restrictions but with the relaxation of norms and return of normalcy, these outbreaks are being observed," she opined. Delhi government's LNJP Hospital has set up a 20-bed isolation ward in the emergency block for such patients. In accordance with the ICMR guidelines, we have done so and also stocked up on medicines. A 15-doctor team has been constituted to monitor the patients, said a senior doctor. Dr <keyword id="5518347" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="rajiva-gupta" source="Orion">Rajiva Gupta</keyword>, Senior Consultant - <keyword id="329004" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="internal-medicine" source="Orion">Internal medicine</keyword> at the CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram and Delhi, said the ILI (Influenza-like illness) cases have seen a spike in the last few days. "For instance, if we were seeing two to three patients in OPDs last month, this month there is one-and-a-half times rise. The symptoms are fever, discomfort, cold, and body aches. In some cases, patients also experience abdominal discomfort, diarrhoea, and even fullness in ears," he added. The senior doctor said the treatment approach changes lightly when the patient has comorbidities and stressed that in those cases, they ask the family members to monitor the BP, pulse, oxygen saturation levels and consciousness levels. "If these levels fluctuate, the patient needs hospitalisation," he stressed. Explaining the current strain, Dr Vikas Deswal, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Medanta, Gurugram said the influenza virus is the most prevalent virus that affects our respiratory system and is present in three different types: A, B, and C. "Among these, subtype A is the most commonly found. One subtype of the influenza A virus is H3N2, which produces symptoms similar to other flu viruses such as cough, fever, cold, sore throat, fatigue, muscle pain, and respiratory complications, especially in children under two years, the elderly, and those with other medical conditions," he said. Both the doctors said in some cases, it has been observed that patients have persistent coughs even after the fever subsides. "One of my patients said he was having a persistent cough and could not attend meetings because of it. Patients also develop extreme weakness due to it," said <keyword id="6356160" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="gupta" source="Orion">Gupta</keyword>. Deswal cautioned against letting down a guard at this time and said since viruses mutate over time, it is important to take precautions. "Antibiotics are not effective in treating viral infections such as H3N2 and can be harmful, so people should avoid taking them, especially if they have H3N2. "The virus spreads through droplets and direct contact, so it is recommended to follow precautions such as avoiding touching surfaces, washing hands, following Covid-appropriate behaviour, practising social distancing, wearing masks, and avoiding going out if experiencing viral symptoms. Additionally, it is important for people to get vaccinated against influenza every year," he said. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/general-motors-may-bring-chatgpt-like-digital-assistant-for-cars/articleshow/98634875.cms">General Motors may bring ChatGPT-like digital assistant for cars</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/mos-it-to-take-up-svb-linked-startups-woes-with-finmin-pitches-for-indian-banks/articleshow/98635142.cms">MoS IT to take up SVB linked startups woes with FinMin; pitches for Indian banks</a>

Delhi hospitals witnessing spike in H3N2 cases, say doctors

An <keyword id="6364396" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="icmr" source="Orion">ICMR</keyword> survey has shown that 50 per cent of the respiratory infection cases admitted to hospitals in over two month are of H3N2 influenza, the government told the Lok Sabha on Friday. A total of 1,161 cases of H3N2, which is a subtype of seasonal influenza virus, have been reported between January 1 and March 20, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar said in a written reply. She said most of these cases showed symptoms of cough and fever. The minister said H3N2 is a viral respiratory infection and antibiotics have no role in its treatment. However, she added, sometimes in a respiratory infection a bacterial infection may also occur and therefore physicians may prescribe an antibiotic to take care of the secondary bacterial infection. According to the data shared by her, Delhi (370) reported the highest number of H3N2 cases followed by <keyword id="13126" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="maharashtra" source="Orion">Maharashtra</keyword> (184), <keyword id="6355588" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="rajasthan" source="Orion">Rajasthan</keyword> (180) and Karnataka (134). Pawar said the <keyword id="46535" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="health-ministry" source="Orion">Health Ministry</keyword> is monitoring the situation and taking steps to support states and UTs in management of influenza cases, including H3N2, which include issuing an advisory for closely following the trend of influenza-like illness (ILI) or severe acute respiratory infection (<keyword id="1511" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="sari" source="Orion">SARI</keyword>). The ministry has asked states and UTs to monitor the proportion of SARI cases among all infection cases and refer sufficient number of samples for testing for influenza, SARS-CoV-2 etc. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/hal-reliance-industries-it-stocks-in-focus-on-friday/articleshow/98957519.cms">Sensex buckles under selling pressure in metal, realty and PSU bank stocks</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/walmart-lays-off-hundreds-of-employees-to-prepare-for-the-future/articleshow/98971218.cms">Walmart lays off hundreds of employees to 'prepare for the future'</a>

Half of respiratory infection cases admitted to hospitals in 2 months are of H3N2 says govt

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The bird flu, or avian influenza, is increasingly worrying public-health experts.</li><li>The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bird-flu-avian-influenza-outbreak-us-h5n1-wiping-out-everything-2023-4">H5N1 bird flu virus</a> is changing, creeping closer to humans, and getting more opportunities to adapt.</li></ul><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bird-flu-virus-h5n1-new-human-case-michigan-respiratory-symptoms-2024-6">Bird flu</a> is flying wild, and it has many infectious disease experts more worried now than ever.The H5N1 avian influenza virus has killed tens of millions of birds across the planet and more than 40,000 sea lions and seals. For animals, it's a pandemic.Still, the CDC says the risk to humans is low. Most people seem to have very little chance, if any, of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bird-flu-eggs-meat-milk-dairy-safety-during-outbreak-2024-4">catching H5N1 avian influenza</a> right now.Only three people in the US have tested positive for the virus since its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bird-flu-cattle-outbreak-repeat-mistakes-former-surgeon-general-warning-2024-4">surprising break into the cattle population</a>, and they all had direct contact with infected cows.<div type="image" title="farmer man in overalls blue and white button shirt and camo cap reaches over a wooden fence to scratch a cow wearing a bow inside an indoors stall full of hay" height="1500" width="2250" msid="110949087" hostid="261" sizebytes="321112"></div>But infectious disease experts are increasingly concerned that the H5N1 virus could <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/3-viruses-scientists-are-watching-for-the-next-pandemic-2022-4">make a sustained jump into humans</a> and start spreading among us. That's not inevitable, but several recent developments suggest it's a growing threat."There's a lot going on," Dr. Monica Gandhi, a professor of medicine and associate chief of the Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, told Business Insider. "I'm becoming more worried."You shouldn't panic, but you should probably know what's going on. This virus is a leading candidate for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-gates-says-world-needs-billion-year-prevent-next-pandemic-2022-6">the next pandemic</a>, and four developments in the past month have experts worried.Here's what you need to know.<h2 id="a6efdbe9-4727-4b3a-b934-ceccc3f63ba8">Bird flu hospitalized a child in Australia</h2>On Friday the World Health Organization announced that a 2-year-old had become Australia's first human case of H5N1 in March.After returning from travel to Kolkata, India, the child's symptoms — loss of appetite, fever, coughing, vomiting, and irritability, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2024-DON519">according</a> to WHO — put them in the hospital for two and a half weeks, including admission to the intensive care unit.As human cases crop up in different parts of the world, epidemiologists like Christopher Dye become more concerned."There's such a vast amount of virus at the moment. And clearly it is changing, and it's doing new and unexpected things," Dye, a professor and senior research fellow at the University of Oxford, told BI.<div type="image" title="researcher in white lab coat blue medical gloves and protective goggles works with an ice bucket containing small samples of milk in a lab" height="1500" width="2250" msid="110949085" hostid="261" sizebytes="166070"></div>He recently co-authored a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bmj.com/content/385/bmj.q1199.full">paper</a>, published in the medical journal BMJ, arguing that the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-real-is-the-last-of-us-science-behind-fungus-pandemic-2023-1">risk of a major human outbreak</a> is "large, plausible, and imminent.""<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/influenza-more-worrisone-than-zika-ebola-2016-4">Influenza has always been a concern</a> for decades and decades, and this particular form of influenza for at least two decades," Dye said. "But now, it's risen to a level of concern, I think, which is greater than ever before."<h2 id="17691a35-dcc3-4171-8b3c-1c847c1e9bb6">Mice could bring bird flu into homes</h2>A total of 47 house mice have tested positive for H5N1 in New Mexico, the US Department of Agriculture reported on Tuesday."Mice are kind of everywhere," Gandhi said. "They're around other animals, they're around humans a lot. And it's a little worrisome."<div type="image" title="brown mouse with white belly sits eating small piece of something in the snow" height="1500" width="2250" msid="110949089" hostid="261" sizebytes="37666"></div>The samples were collected from the sick mice in early May. According to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/why-the-discovery-of-h5n1-bird-flu-in-mice-is-so-alarming/">The Telegraph</a>, scientists suspect that the mice, as well as some domestic cats, may have gotten the virus from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bird-flu-milk-food-safety-former-surgeon-general-doctor-2024-4">drinking raw milk from infected cows</a>. (Public health experts resoundingly advise that people should not drink unpasteurized, aka "raw," milk.)"This brings the virus closer to human homes," Rick Bright, former director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, told The Telegraph. "This is out of control," he added.Every new population of animals, and every new exposure to humans, is another opportunity for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/woman-hiv-had-coronavirus-216-days-virus-mutated-2021-6">the virus to mutate</a> and adapt.<h2 id="abc7e6b4-b179-449b-b66c-ad52a39458d8">One mutation suggests the virus has started adapting</h2><div type="image" title="h5n1 virus microscope image shows black and white long straight worm-shaped organism" height="1500" width="2250" msid="110949092" hostid="261" sizebytes="157400"></div>When the CDC analyzed a virus sample from the second US farmworker infected, they spotted a mutation in the virus's replication machinery — the way it gets inside its host's cells to make copies of itself.It's a change "associated with viral adaptation to mammalian hosts," the CDC said in a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/spotlights/2023-2024/h5n1-technical-update-may-24-2024.html">statement in May</a>. The statement also said that studies in mice indicate this type of genetic mutation in the virus is associated with more severe disease and enhanced viral replication.That doesn't make it a human virus yet, though.Other than this one change, H5N1 has mainly "avian virus properties and not human virus properties," Richard Webby, a virologist at St. Jude and director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Studies on the Ecology of Influenza in Animals and Birds, told BI.That means the virus is better adapted to thrive and spread among birds, not humans.Still, that could change.<h2 id="ddfee4b3-1706-4652-9418-5ae34679d762">The latest US case had a troubling cough</h2>The first two farmworkers to test positive for H5N1 in the US had <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/treatments/pink-eye-treatment">pink eye</a>. But the third case, reported in Michigan in May, featured a cough and sore throat.That means H5N1 was in that worker's respiratory system, which is a scarier place to find a threatening virus than in our eyes.For one thing, it's easier to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-covid-positive-biden-statement-meadows-book-coughing-on-people-2021-12">spread a virus by coughing</a> or sneezing than by, well, sharing eye fluid.<div type="image" title="A man coughing" height="1439" width="2084" msid="110949086" hostid="261" sizebytes="169668"></div>The good news is that, as far as scientists can tell, H5N1 is still not adapted to humans enough to transmit between us. The CDC has reported no evidence that the coughing farmworker spread the virus to anyone else.But that doesn't mean H5N1 can't mutate to achieve human-to-human transmission — which brings us to the second unfortunate reality of this farmworker's respiratory infection. Compared to the eyes, human lungs are a more convenient place for an avian virus to get more mammalian, according to Webby. In the lungs, the virus is exposed to more of the cell receptors that a mammalian virus would bind to, giving H5N1 more opportunity to mutate and start grabbing onto those receptors — thereby becoming better adapted to infecting and spreading between humans.Many experts fear the USDA and CDC aren't monitoring cattle and farmworkers closely enough to catch concerning mutations early, and that other human cases may be going undetected.<div type="image" title="blue gloved hands in a white lab coat hold a large syringe and a lab tube of fluid" height="1500" width="2250" msid="110949093" hostid="261" sizebytes="47636"></div>"I think there's enough of a threat here to be very alert so that we have a surveillance system in place that, as soon as this happens, we can find it," Dye said.<h2 id="048d06aa-b91d-4421-b98b-5ae259b70f87">Vaccines are in the works</h2>The good news is that bird flu is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/august-flu-vs-covid-infection-rate-2023-8">not COVID-19</a>. Scientists have been tracking this virus and its entire viral family tree, watching for any sign of a growing threat to humans, for decades.As a result, the key elements of a vaccine are already on standby. The US is beginning to manufacture millions of vaccines using "candidate vaccine viruses" — weakened influenza viruses — that the CDC has developed.<div type="image" title="how does the flu shot work" height="1414" width="2121" msid="110949090" hostid="261" sizebytes="78400"></div>Though the candidates are not necessarily perfect matches to H5N1, and the vaccines' use of eggs may be a manufacturing roadblock if bird flu is sweeping the chicken population, they may provide some immunity in the case of a human outbreak.Furthermore, scientists now have proven <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mrna-vaccine-pfizer-moderna-coronavirus-2020-12">mRNA vaccine technology</a> at the ready. Vaccines that use mRNA, of which the COVID-19 vaccines were the first approved for use, are more flexible and faster to develop than traditional vaccines — and they don't require eggs.<div type="image" title="white shiny eggs on a machine coming out of a pink glowing chamber" height="1500" width="2667" msid="110949091" hostid="261" sizebytes="187078"></div>Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have already <a target="_blank" href="https://www.pennmedicine.org/news/news-releases/2024/may/penn-researchers-develop-experimental-mrna-avian-flu-vaccine">developed</a> an experimental mRNA vaccine for H5N1, which they've successfully tested in mice and ferrets.If H5N1 becomes a problem in humans, a vaccine could be offered with the flu shot you get later this year.In the meantime, bird flu is a looming threat to keep an eye on."As far as I can see, this is not going to go away anytime soon," Dye said.

Why 4 new bird flu developments have experts worried about the virus

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The H5N1 bird-flu virus has infected a third person in the US, this time with respiratory symptoms.</li><li>The new patient's cough and sore throat could help the virus get better at infecting humans.</li></ul>The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bird-flu-cattle-outbreak-repeat-mistakes-former-surgeon-general-warning-2024-4">H5N1 bird-flu virus</a> has once again infected a human. But this time, the unlucky patient had a cough and a sore throat, which is a new milestone for the virus's spread in the US.The H5N1 virus has become a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bird-flu-avian-influenza-outbreak-us-h5n1-wiping-out-everything-2023-4">pandemic among animals</a>, raging through worldwide bird populations and now through US cattle herds.This latest human case, which the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed on Thursday, is the third known human case in the US, following one in Texas and another in Michigan.All three people are dairy-farm workers who were exposed to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bird-flu-virus-chickens-cows-human-food-outbreaks-pandemic-2024-5">infected cows</a>, according to the CDC.The first two cases, however, involved only eye symptoms, including <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/treatments/pink-eye-treatment">conjunctivitis or pink eye</a>. That means the infection was probably limited to their eyes. Now, it has hit someone's lungs.The risk to the general public is still low, the CDC says, but these new symptoms suggest the virus may have entered a new phase of its flirtation with human infection.<h2 id="3e38b128-b335-4d91-85c2-ad38616292d6">Lungs give the virus more opportunity to adapt to humans</h2>The St. Jude virologist Richard Webby is a leading researcher on an H5 group of influenza viruses, which have been <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/egg-prices-poised-to-spike-again-thanks-to-avian-flu-2023-12">circulating in bird populations</a> for about 25 years.Since 2021, the H5N1 virus has branched out to new frontiers of sustained spread, infecting dolphins and porpoises, migrating to the Americas, culling sea lions and seals, and now spreading through <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/beef-prices-higher-drought-fewer-cattle-less-meat-2022-8">US cattle herds</a>.<div type="image" title="two people in white biohazard suits with masks and goggles handle a vial on a beach next to a dead porpoise" height="1500" width="2249" msid="110684142" hostid="261"></div>"This virus keeps on turning up surprises," Webby, who directs the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Studies on the Ecology of Influenza in Animals and Birds, told Business Insider. "Had you asked me, beginning of the year, what the chances are of H5 turning up in cows, I would have said exceedingly low."Still, he said, H5N1 is still more of a bird virus than a mammalian virus. That's mainly because of the receptors it binds to in order to enter its hosts' cells and replicate itself."Avian viruses bind to one form of this receptor on the host cell. Mammalian viruses bind to a different form," Webby said.The mucus lining the human eye (where the first farmworker got conjunctivitis) is rich in the receptors that avian viruses grab, he said. There, the H5N1 virus can continue operating as an avian virus, grabbing avian receptors with no need to adapt to human receptors.But our respiratory tracts are full of both forms of this receptor — the form preferred by avian viruses and the one preferred by mammalian viruses. Therefore, being in the lungs gives H5N1 more exposure to the receptors that mammalian viruses use, Webby said.That gives H5N1 more opportunity to sustain a mutation that would allow it to bind to those mammalian receptors, adapting better to human bodies.That's the concern, but it's not clear whether that has actually happened inside this patient's lungs. For such a mutation to be significant, it would then have to spread to other people as well. So far, based on all known cases, the virus has been unable to spread from one person to another.<h2 id="151bdecc-20ab-4244-9dd5-9542f3aca984">Sequencing the virus tests for mutations</h2>In a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/02/opinion/bird-flu-case-respiratory.html">New York Times</a> opinion piece on Sunday, the virologist Rick Bright argued that the emergence of respiratory symptoms indicated "a dangerous inflection point" for the virus.After all, he wrote, "coughing can spread viruses more easily than eye irritation can."<div type="image" title="A man coughing" height="1439" width="2084" msid="110684144" hostid="261"></div>But for Webby, the Michigan patient's cough "doesn't change a whole lot."Two previous one-off human cases of H5N1 — one in Chile and one in Ecuador — featured respiratory symptoms.The virus didn't necessarily have to mutate to infect the Michigan farmworker's respiratory system, Webby said. The person could have simply encountered a large amount of virus, maybe an especially ill cow."That's me sort of looking at the crystal ball a little," he said, adding that it was "the most likely explanation for what we're seeing, rather than the other one, which is of course much more scary, that this virus has already changed."Either way, scientists won't know if any scary mutations have occurred until they can examine the virus's genomic RNA sequence from this new case. But Webby said the patient carried such small amounts of the virus that it was possible the CDC wouldn't have enough to get the sequence.Genome sequences are critical. By checking the virus's genes in each new human case, no matter how mild the symptoms, scientists can identify any fresh mutations that help it adapt to humans. If H5N1 becomes a bona fide mammalian virus, they could watch its transformation in real time.<div type="image" title="blue gloved hands in a white lab coat hold a large syringe and a lab tube of fluid" height="1500" width="2250" msid="110684146" hostid="261"></div>"The very first signals we're going to get that this virus is changing are probably going to come from human infections," Webby said.So far, though, the government's monitoring may not be robust enough to spot those mutations early.<h2 id="3c3ea6d6-9c14-4a0d-8a69-ffacd711d1be">Scientists call for more testing so they won't miss mutations</h2>The Food and Drug Administration has detected fragments of the virus in commercial milk and beef. Public-health experts have told BI that though it's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bird-flu-milk-food-safety-former-surgeon-general-doctor-2024-4">unlikely food will infect you</a>, cautious people can cook their eggs and meats all the way. They said nobody should drink unpasteurized milk, aka raw milk.<div type="image" title="Cattle look at the camera in front of a hay feeder." height="1417" width="2117" msid="110684147" hostid="261"></div>The real risk is to people who work directly with sick animals, especially farmworkers such as the three who have been infected so far.The CDC's principal deputy director, Nirav Shah, told the press in a briefing on Thursday that the government was monitoring about 350 people nationwide who might have been exposed to H5N1, most of them in Michigan. But <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/30/health/bird-flu-infection-farmworker.html">The New York Times</a> reported that only about 40 farmworkers had been tested for the virus."We would like to be doing more testing," Shah said, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.statnews.com/2024/05/30/bird-flu-third-case-human-infection-caused-respiratory-symptoms/">STAT News</a>.Bright argues that the government's weak testing regime could be allowing farmworker infections to fly under the radar.<div type="image" title="man with turkeys inside coop. sign outside reads 'biosecurity area - no admittance w/o owner permission" height="1400" width="2100" msid="110684148" hostid="261"></div>But undetected cases aren't the same thing as undetected spread.Bright's essay rings alarm bells about unknown human-to-human transmission, but Webby finds that unlikely. Even with its current monitoring, the CDC would probably detect sustained human spread, he said.Rather, the problem with undetected cases is that nobody can sequence their samples. Those are windows into the virus's genome (and possible mutations) that nobody is peeking through.Webby and Bright agree that scientists need more sequences of the virus more quickly. For example, Bright said that despite the ongoing herd spread, the Department of Agriculture hadn't shared a new sequence from a cow infection sample in weeks."Bottom line is we need to have more information from exactly what this virus is doing," Webby said. "The more we can understand about it, I do believe we can properly control it, or at least control it way better than we are."Correction — June 4, 2024: An earlier version of this story misstated the nature of genomic sequencing of the H5N1 virus. They are RNA sequences, not DNA.

The 3rd human case of bird flu in the US has 2 new and troubling symptoms

<ul><li>At least 6,700 people were reported as diagnosed with <keyword id="43489" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Swine-flu">swine flu</keyword> so far this year in four states in North India </li><li>The highest number of swine <keyword id="43544" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Flu">flu</keyword> cases have been diagnosed in Rajasthan followed by Delhi. </li><li>New Delhi has recorded at 1,196 cases with 100 fresh cases of swine flu on Thursday alone. </li></ul>Four states in North India including Rajasthan, Delhi, Punjab and Haryana have been badly hit by the spread of H1N1 virus, with the latest data indicating a major outbreak of swine flu. That is at least five times higher than what was seen last year. As of Thursday, the 6,701 people have been diagnosed with swine flu with 226 reported deaths in the four states, <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/swine-flu-impact-highest-in-four-states/story-2v0dhm3DyPUW6W4Ad1MhXJ.html">Hindustan Times</a> reported citing data from National Centre for Disease Control. Only 798 cases were reported during January and February last year. In the national capital, over 1,196 were reported as of Thursday, with 100 fresh cases of swine flu reported on Thursday alone, IANS reported citing data from Directorate General of Health Services. Only one death has been reported in Delhi so far. In 2018, there were only 205 cases of swine flu in New Delhi. Rajasthan appears to be the worst hit, with 2,706 cases so far this year and five swine flu-related deaths reported on Thursday, taking the toll to 96, according to the IANS report. Snow-covered Himachal Pradesh is also battling swine flu. As of now, 16 people have reportedly died, and 113 diagnosed, according to Hindustan Times. Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Rajeev Bindal was been diagnosed positive for swine flu on Thursday. Medical experts <a href="https://www.ibtimes.co.in/why-india-seeing-sudden-spurt-swine-flu-cases-here-ares-some-h1n1-virus-prevention-tips-791494">believe</a> that the H1N1 virus can attack every alternate year and people with low immunity are the most vulnerable. Long winters in northern parts of India may have helped the virus to live longer, thus spreading the disease, say experts. India’s government has issued an advisory to all the states directing them to step up efforts to combat the epidemic. H1N1 is an airborne viral disease that can spread through coughing and sneezing and even indirect contact like touching a contaminated object or surface such as door knobs, cell phones and computers. "The symptoms include fever and cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, difficulty in breathing. Other symptoms may include body aches, headache, fatigue, chills, diarrhea and vomiting, and blood-stained sputum," the government advisory said, adding that children and elderly with weak immunity are more at risk. (With IANS inputs) See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/swine-flu-cases-surge-to-over-1000-in-indias-capital-government-data/articleshow/67844265.cms">India’s capital is battling with over 1000 swine flu cases</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/amit-shah-has-swine-flu-jaitley-is-in-us-for-treatment-general-secretary-ram-lal-and-it-minister-ravi-shankar-prasad-are-also-in-hospital/articleshow/67569323.cms">Two out of the top three leaders in BJP are out of action</a>

Swine flu outbreak in North India is a lot worse than last year

<ul><li>Nvidia stock doesn't look expensive even at a $2 trillion valuation, according to Bank of America.</li><li>The bank increased its Nvidia price target to $1,100 ahead of its "AI Woodstock" event, implying 24% upside.</li><li>BofA said Nvidia is trading at a lower forward P/E ratio than it was in November 2022.</li></ul>Even at a $2.2 trillion valuation, <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/nvda-stock?miRedirects=1">Nvidia</a> stock still isn't expensive, <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/bac-stock?miRedirects=1">Bank of America</a> said in a note on Wednesday.The bank reiterated its "Buy" rating and increased its price target to $1,100 from $925, representing potential upside of 24% from current levels."Despite YTD outperformance, NVDA valuation and ownership attractive compared to semis/infotech peers," Bank of America analyst Vivek Arya said.Shares of Nvidia have surged 80% year-to-date and <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/nvidia-stock-ai-race-artificial-intelligence-wall-street-gpu-huang-2023-5">are up 287% over the past year as demand for its AI-enabling graphic cards remains insatiable. </a>But amid the stunning success of Nvidia's underlying business, the company's stock is still trading at valuations lower than when ChatGPT was first launched in 2022."NVDA trading lower today at 37x NTM PE vs. 44x PE when ChatGPT was launched in November 2022," Arya said, adding that the stock is trading well within its historical forward price-to-earnings range of 26x to 69x. Meanwhile, while most investors own Nvidia stock, they're still underweight the stock relative to its weight in the <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/s&amp;p_500">S&amp;P 500</a>."Valuation, ownership levels still suggest room for upside," Arya said. "Our recent ownership analysis suggests that while NVDA is broadly owned (67% of funds in our survey), relative weighting (NVDA ownership concentration vs. concentration in SPX) is below large cap infotech peers (1.01x vs. 1.13x peers) despite nearly 9x faster growth potential," Arya said.Further upside in Nvidia stock could be sparked by its "AI Woodstock" event on March 18, when it hosts its GPU Tech Conference and is set to unveil the successor to its wildly popular H100 chip. "We expect GTC to showcase: 1) Rising impact of genAI, omniverse/digital twins across a wide range of end-markets, 2) Opportunity to re-architect nearly $1-$2Tn of global computing infrastructure with accelerators, resulting in a $250-$500bn annual market (vs $250bn prior) over the next 3-5 years, 3) Pipeline update across accelerators (B100, N100), Ethernet switches, DPU, and edge AI," Arya said.

Nvidia stock still isn't expensive even at a $2 trillion valuation, BofA says

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Jeff Bezos owns three private jets, worth around $140 million in total.</li><li>They include two Gulfstream G650ERs and a Pilatus PC-24.</li></ul>Like most billionaires, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-bezos-life-career-education">Jeff Bezos</a> often flies around the world, and having his own planes lets him save time and improve his security.The world's second-richest person owns three <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taylor-swift-vistajet-private-jet-global-7500-jet-lag-tips-2024-3">private jets</a>, according to public records seen by Business Insider and data from JetSpy.Two of them are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/see-inside-65-million-gulfstream-g650er-jet-owned-by-billonaires-2022-8">Gulfstream G650ER</a>s, which cost around $65 million each. The G650ER is a popular choice for the world's richest people — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-private-jet-gulfstream-g650er-lifestyle-wealth-photos-2022-4">Elon Musk</a> and Bill Gates also own one — thanks to its long range and high speed.From <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-bezos-houses">Bezos' home in Miami</a>, the G650ER can fly as far as Cape Town, Dubai, and Beijing, according to Gulfstream's website. Only Australia and southeast Asia would necessitate a fuelling stop.<div type="image" title="Gulfstream G650ER." height="1875" width="2500" msid="110249386" hostid="261" sizebytes="210304"></div>The range is slightly reduced if it's traveling at its top speed of Mach 0.90, equivalent to 690 miles per hour. But the 22-seater can still fly for an impressive 7,365 miles. There aren't many other private jets on the market that allow for a more than 10-hour flight.Bezos also owns a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pilatus-pc-24-jet-review-pictures-2018-6">Piltaus PC-24</a> with the tail-number N194PJ, according to data from JetSpy. The light business jet with 10 seats was manufactured in 2020 and usually costs about $9 million. But with a maximum range of 2,200 miles, it would need a fuel stop to travel between Bezos' Miami home and Amazon's Seattle HQ.<h2 id="9763378c-0702-475c-b9ea-679692af38ec">How Bezos' jets are kept private</h2>Proving Bezos' ownership of the jets isn't simple. JetSpy's data lists Bezos as the operator of the PC-24, although it's registered with the Federal Aviation Administration under a company called TVPX Aircraft Solutions.TVPX's website says it provides trust services for US business aviation, either due to rules on citizenship or for "privacy enhancement."<div type="image" title="A Pilatus PC-24." height="2000" width="3000" msid="110249387" hostid="261" sizebytes="85050"></div>The two Gulfstreams are registered to a holding company called Poplar Glen LLC, per the FAA registry.BI found Washington state records from the firm's creation in 2004 which say it is owned by Bezos. The manager was listed as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/read-jeff-bezos-nda-housekeeper-2023-12">Zeffram LLC</a>, another of Bezos' holding companies. In the most recent records, Poplar Glen's governor is listed as Paul Dauber, one of Bezos' attorneys.Bezos bought a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-first-private-jet-dassault-falcon-lifestyle-wealth-900b-2022-4">Dassault Falcon 900EX</a> the same year as Poplar Glen's creation. According to the manufacturer's website, a pre-owned one costs around $10 million.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taylor-swift-gets-rid-of-one-private-jet-2024-2">Taylor Swift</a> also used to own a Falcon 900 until she sold it in January. According to FlightAware, Bezos sold his in 2015.The same year, Poplar Glen paid $5.5 million for a hangar at Boeing Field in Seattle, according to property deeds seen by BI. The Puget Sound Business Journal first reported the sale.Those documents show it was owned by Costco, and measures nearly 18,600 square feet. A <a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240516145332/https://f.tlcollect.com/fr2/114/38574/Quad_7_Hangars_(Boeing_Field)_4-pgs.pdf">sales brochure</a> for the space, Hangar H-1, is still visible online.<div type="image" title="Gulfstream G650ER." height="1875" width="2500" msid="110249388" hostid="261" sizebytes="396140"></div>Bezos then bought his first Gulfstream G650ER in 2016. It's registered as N271DV — the number previously used by his Falcon 900EX.The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon">Amazon</a> founder's second Gulfstream jet was purchased in 2019, and registered as N758PB. It has newer Rolls Royce engines than his other jet, providing a couple hundred extra pounds of thrust, per FlightAware.If you try to look up these jets on Flightradar24, you'll see that they can't be tracked. That's because the site uses some data from the FAA, which lets <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-appears-no-longer-masking-private-jet-tracking-pia-2023-10">jet owners protect their privacy</a> by signing up for the "Limiting Aircraft Data Displayed" program.However, these planes can still be tracked via sites like ADS-B Exchange, built on a network of plane enthusiasts and institutions with receivers that detect aircraft signals. ADS-B Exchange's data is used by Jack Sweeney, the college student who was named on Forbes 30 Under 30 after <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/college-student-tracks-elon-musk-jet-forbes-30-under-30-2023-11">tracking Musk's jet</a>.Bezos has also taken the extra step of reserving 36 other N-Numbers which aren't in use, per the <a target="_blank" href="https://registry.faa.gov/microfiche/arrmfp80.pdf">FAA registry</a>. Some of these, like 271EV and 271DX, resemble his Gulfstreams' N-Number, so they could help maintain his security.

Jeff Bezos' 3 private jets are worth $140 million and include 2 Gulfstream G650ERs alongside a hangar in Seattle

An international team of scientists has identified 18 <keyword id="12545062" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mammalian-viruses" source="Orion">mammalian viruses</keyword>, which pose high risk to humans and domestic animals, from China's infamous wet markets. The origins of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, which has so far resulted in 253.6 million cases of infections and 5.11 million deaths, has been linked with a seafood market in Wuhan. China has maintained that the first cases of SARS-CoV-2 likely emerged from animal to human transmission at a wet market in Wuhan. In the study, researchers from China, the US, Belgium and Australia claimed to have unearthed game animals that are commonly hunted or consumed as exotic food in China, and have been potential reservoirs for SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. The team also examined many species for the first time, some of which have been banned by the Chinese government for trading or artificial breeding since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. They performed an analysis of 1,725 game animals, representing 16 species and five mammalian orders, sampled across China. "From this we identified 71 mammalian viruses, with 45 described for the first time. Eighteen viruses were considered as potentially high risk to humans and domestic animals," said corresponding author Shuo Su from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Nanjing Agricultural University in China. Notably, the team did not identify any SARS-CoV-2-like or SARS-CoV-like sequences, including the Malayan pangolins from which SARS-CoV-2-like viruses have previously been identified, Su said in the study posted on preprint server biorxiv, meaning not yet peer-reviewed. According to researchers, one reason for the lack of pangolin SARS-like viruses could be that previous virus-positive samples were all confiscated by the custom authorities in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces, both of which were characterised by an intensive network of animal smuggling. In contrast, the new samples were obtained from Zhejiang province in eastern China which does not have an international border that would facilitate smuggling, they said. Further, the team found that Civets (Paguma larvata) carried the highest number of potentially high risk viruses. The cat-like carnivores have been known as potential reservoirs for coronavirus. They also identified the transmission of bat coronavirus HKU8 from a bat to a civet, as well as cross-species jumps of coronavirus from bats to hedgehogs and from birds to porcupines. Similarly avian influenza virus H9N2 was also identified in civets and Asian badgers, with the latter displaying respiratory symptoms, as well as cases of likely human-to-wildlife virus transmission. "These data highlight the importance of game animals as potential drivers of disease emergence," the researchers said. SEE ALSO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/former-myntra-ceo-started-mensa-brand-in-may-and-its-already-worth-a-billion-dollars-with/articleshow/87735832.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Former Myntra CEO started Mensa Brand in May ⁠and it’s already worth a billion dollars</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/policybazzar-and-sigachi-share-price-jump-in-early-trading/articleshow/87730171.cms">Policybazaar gets a boost after an American fund laps up 3.4 million shares and Sigachi hits upper circuit on the morning after listing</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/jpmorgan-takes-tesla-to-court-over-elon-musks-2018-tweets-demands-162-million/articleshow/87729405.cms">JPMorgan takes Tesla to court over Elon Musk’s 2018 tweets ⁠— demands $162 million</a>

Scientists find 18 more viruses from China's wet markets

<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image on-image"><a href="http://pictures.reuters.com/C.aspx?VP3=SearchResult&amp;ALID=2C0BF1WPH3X7&amp;PBC=:2C0BF1WPH3X7">Reuters</a></div></div>Just last year <keyword id="1334" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="China">China</keyword> was dealing with the new <keyword id="1627169" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="H7N9-bird-flu">H7N9 bird flu</keyword> that had just jumped from birds to humans. Now, there's another new strain of <keyword id="95867" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Bird-flu">bird flu</keyword> that is capable of infecting humans. 
The new <keyword id="43544" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Flu">flu</keyword> is caused by the influenza <keyword id="10860" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Virus">virus</keyword> H6N1, which infected a 20-year-old Taiwanese woman in May. She was hospitalized for her high fever, cough, and shortness of breath. She was treated with anti-viral medication and recovered.
Though the patient survived her infection, the doctors were mystified by her illness - she was negative for all normal respiratory illnesses. They kept looking and eventually discovered that she was infected with a common bird flu virus that has never before been seen in humans.
The find was published in the Nov. 14 issue of the journal <a href="http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(13)70221-2/abstract" target="_blank">The Lancet Respiratory Medicine</a>.
The numbers and letters that designate flu strains - H for hemagglutinin and N for Neuraminidase - are two different proteins on the outside of the virus that are slightly different in different strains. They determine what animals the virus can infect - the H protein works as a lock-and-key with proteins on the outside of our cells to let the virus in.
<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_left"><div><div class="image on-image">adapted from wikipedia</div></div></div>These proteins usually mean that a virus can only successfully infect some animals - they are tailored to their hosts. But the genes that make these proteins can change and adapt and evolve to infect more than just a handful of species.
That's exactly what seems to have happened in this case. The human-infecting version of H6N1 had a mutation in the virus that enabled it to bind to our lung cells, according to the researchers. The researchers said that this mutation is widespread in the general virus population in chickens.
"Our findings suggest that a unique group of H6N1 viruses with [this mutation] have become endemic and predominant in poultry in <keyword id="46274" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Taiwan">Taiwan</keyword>. As these viruses continue to evolve and accumulate changes, they increase the potential risk of human infection," the authors write in the paper.
What's interesting is that this patient didn't have direct contact with live birds, the normal route through which bird viruses jump to humans.
We don't know yet how dangerous this newly human-adapted bird flu is or will be. Right now, the situation seems like an isolated infection, <a href="http://www.livescience.com/41194-new-bird-flu-h6n1.html" target="_blank">according to LiveScience</a>:
So far, there's no evidence that H6N1 can spread between people. Of the 125 cases of flu reported in Taiwan since the woman became ill, none were caused by H6N1. The researchers also tracked down 36 people who came into contact with the woman, six of whom became sick around the time she did, but there was no indication they had H6N1.
The woman's friends who became sick were only tested for presence of the virus, though, several days after they were feeling sick. They could have had it and already cleared it from their systems. No other humans hospitalized with flu-like symptoms tested positive for the virus.
While one Taiwanese woman getting sick doesn't seem like something to worry about, we never know when one of these human jumps could be the start of a larger outbreak. When a new virus infects humans it can be a big deal, even if it isn't too deadly. That's because our immune systems have no experience against these viruses (unlike the seasonal flu viruses that circulate yearly).
Marion Koopmans, a virologist in the Netherlands wrote in <a href="http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(13)70233-9/fulltext" target="_blank">a comment in same issue of The Lancet that</a>, "although the total number of recognized human cases is less than 1000 worldwide, each person infected with an animal influenza virus is judged a threat to public <keyword id="6354750" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="health">health</keyword>, because the influenza pandemics of the past 100 years have all emerged from animals."

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