In recent months, the avian influenza strain H5N1 has jumped not only to poultry, but also to dairy cows, domestic cats, and even humans, showcasing its alarming capacity for cross-species transmission.
Despite the worrying nature of avian influenza in humans, the World Health Organization reported just 896 cases worldwide from January 2003 to July 2024, indicating human infections are still relatively rare.
A recent study highlighted mutations in the bird flu genome that may enhance the virus's ability to infect mammals, raising concerns about its potential to become more dangerous as it can exploit mammalian ANP32 proteins.
While traces of the H5N1 virus were found in unpasteurized milk, definitive evidence linking raw milk consumption to human infection remains elusive, emphasizing the need for further study into transmission routes.
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