Mutations are rare but have been reported in some cases in other countries and most often in extreme infections

Summary

The CDC identified rare mutations in the bird flu virus from the first severe U.S. human case, found in a Louisiana resident over 65 with severe respiratory illness.

The mutations, located in the hemagglutinin (HA) gene responsible for cell attachment, differ from those in local backyard flock samples and align with severe cases seen abroad.

The patient was infected with the D1.1 genotype, recently found in U.S. wild birds and poultry, not the B3.13 genotype seen in humans and livestock elsewhere.

The CDC states no person-to-person transmission occurred, and public risk remains low.

  • @EmpathicVagrant
    14•2 days ago

    Rare mutations sure must be pretty common if I’ve heard this phrase so often.

    • @alleycat
      52•2 days ago

      Rare becomes likely if you roll the dice often enough.

      • @EmpathicVagrant
        11•2 days ago

        Exactly. Common Uncommon Rare Epic Legendary

        Basically a coin flip sounds about right. I’ll call it coinflu

        • @[email protected]English
          8•2 days ago

          But they are still rare in terms of number of virus bodies generated daily by viral reproduction multiplied by number of infections.

          If they weren’t rare, these infections would get deadly mutations in hours, not weeks or months.