H5N1 bird flu virus in Canadian teenager displays mutations demonstrating virus’ risk

H5N1 bird flu virus in Canadian teenager displays mutations demonstrating virus’ risk The H5N1 virus that infected a Canadian teen appears not to have spread, but it shows signs of mutation that makes flu virologists nervous. Helen Branswell STAT

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There’s currently no evidence the teenager, who remains in critical condition in hospital, infected anyone else. If that’s the case, it is likely this mutated version of the virus would die out when the teen’s illness resolves. The source of the teen’s infection has not been determined, so it’s impossible to know for sure if the mutations were in the virus that infected him or her. But scientists think it is more likely that the mutations developed during the course of his or her infection.

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