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- cross-posted to:
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Scientists are on alert for signs the virus is adapting to spread more easily among humans, after the WHO announced the death from April
The World Health Organization (WHO) has said a man’s death in Mexico was caused by a strain of bird flu called H5N2 that has never before been found in a human.
The WHO said Wednesday it wasn’t clear how the person became infected. “Although the source of exposure to the virus in this case is currently unknown, A(H5N2) viruses have been reported in poultry in Mexico,” WHO said in a statement.
Scientists are on alert for changes in the virus that could signal that bird flu is adapting to spread more easily among humans.
Therefore it leaves open the fundamental question: can this strain of influenza infect a human with a fully-functioning or even healthy immune system?
He seems like an outlier, not “necessarily” the start of a trend.
But I am no doctor, and it’s just a thought.
Or, like covid, can you be asymptomatic and spread it like a mofo?
Unknown… but I guess we’ll find out!
(Likely not soon though b/c this isn’t the flu season)
They tested everyone he had contact with after he tested positive and couldn’t find a single positive so I’d say that remains possible but unlikely at this stage in the viruses life.