New study sparks debate about whether H5N1 virus in cows is adapted to better infect humans Megan Molteni By Megan Molteni July 8, 2024

https://www.statnews.com/2024/07/08/bird-flu-in-humans-scientists-debate-if-cow-h5n1-adapted-to-better-infect-humans/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_cxZyNildQj1atRrTPuM9S2Cule148-yavrwEWo0LK6Y0DAsFsVesgQuXdDC5MiNbUqtg0fGscpz-oMWrxOHcCR93KGA&_hsmi=314893746&utm_content=314893746&utm_source=hs_email Could the bird flu with an affinity for cows also be attracted to humans? Different flus for different crews — that’s typically the motto for circulating influenza viruses. Certain flu viruses have an affinity for latching onto receptors commonly found in bird guts, while others prefer those found in the human upper respiratory tract. But a new study found that the H5N1 virus infecting dairy cows across the U.S. could actually bind to both types of receptors. What does that mean for us? It’s too soon to say whether this means there’s an increased risk for the virus to become a significant human pathogen, one of the study authors told STAT’s Megan Molteni. Read more from Megan on our evolving understanding of how bird flu circulates.