The academic noted that the bird flu virus has a unique ability to change its genetic material, making it less likely to be transmitted to humans.
“This particular strain H5N5 will not transfer to humans; however, it is important to remember that new pandemic strains emerge every ten years. Even if this year we have a good immune response to this virus, next year it may change, and our immune system may not recognize it,” added Onishchenko.
Additionally, on November 27, Reuters reported that the head of the Respiratory Infections Center at the Pasteur Institute in France warned that the bird flu virus, which affects wild and domestic birds as well as mammals, could cause a pandemic more serious than COVID-19 if mutations occur that allow it to be transmitted between humans. The article mentions that people have antibodies to the H1 and H3 flu strains, but the lack of antibodies against the H5 strain is a concerning fact.
