Genetic change increased bird flu severity during US spread, shows study
Tuesday, May 30, 2023 - 12:42
in Health & Medicine
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists discovered how the current epizootic H5N1 avian influenza virus (bird flu) gained new genes and greater virulence as it spread west. Researchers showed that the avian virus could severely infect the brains of mammalian research models, a notable departure from previous related strains of the virus.