Will bird flu spark the next pandemic?

The article focuses on the global spread and potential pandemic risk of a variant of the H5N1 avian influenza virus, which has caused widespread mortality in domestic and wild bird populations since emerging in 2020. This virus has also infected various mammals, including seals, minks, sea lions, bears, foxes, and skunks, raising concerns about its ability to adapt to mammalian hosts. Although human cases remain rare and there is no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission, experts are closely monitoring viral mutations that could increase transmissibility among mammals. Researchers are using genetic analyses and animal models to identify mutations that might enable the virus to jump species, emphasizing the importance of surveillance to prepare for potential future outbreaks.