Study: H5N1 Bird Flu in Meat and Dairy Cattle May Infect Humans More Easily
A recent study published in Nature has ignited a debate among influenza researchers regarding the potential of the H5N1 virus, currently causing an outbreak in U.S. dairy cattle, to infect humans more easily than other circulating strains.
Led by Yoshihiro Kawaoka from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the study found that the bovine H5N1 virus could bind to both avian and human-type receptors. This dual-binding capability suggests a potential for increased transmission to humans. However, Kawaoka emphasizes that binding to human-type receptors alone is not sufficient for an avian flu virus to replicate effectively in humans.
The findings have sparked controversy within the scientific community, with other researchers reporting conflicting results:
- James Paulson from Scripps Research Institute and Scott Hensley from the University of Pennsylvania found no evidence of increased “human type” specificity in…
