Humans are able to catch bird/ avian flu.

Question

A new study finds tweaking part of the H5N1 virus infecting dairy cows in a single spot could allow it to better attach to human cell receptors, raising concerns it could transmit more easily between people.

Answer 1

This claim is true. The cited article from Scientific American claims that “H5N1, the strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus currently spreading in U.S. dairy cows, only needs a single mutation to readily latch on to human cells found in the upper airway.” The author of that article claims that the H5N1 virus will gain the ability to adapt to humans if it can adapt to the receptor proteins found in human cells. If this mutation were to occur, the virus would become more effective at human transmission. This implies that humans are already able to catch bird flu, it’s just that this specific mutation would make the infection spread faster. 

According to the CDC, “there have been some rare cases of human infection with these viruses [avian influenza]. Illness in humans from avian influenza virus infections have ranged in severity from no symptoms or mild illness to severe disease that resulted in death”. The CDC writes that infected birds shed avian influenza viruses through their saliva, mucus, and feces. Other animals, like cows, infected with avian influenza viruses may have the virus present in respiratory secretions, their organs, blood, or in other body fluids, like their milk. Human infections with avian influenza viruses can happen when the virus gets into a person's eyes, nose, or mouth. According to the Cleveland Clinic, people who work with poultry, waterfowl, and dairy cows are most at risk. Therefore, the claim that humans can catch bird flu (from U.S. dairy cows or otherwise) is true. 

Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/virus-transmission/avian-in-humans.html#:~:text=influenza%20(bird%20flu)-,Although%20avian%20(bird)%20influenza%20(flu)%20A%20viruses%20usually,disease%20that%20resulted%20in%20death. 

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22401-bird-flu

Answer 2

True -- https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/influenza/maineflu/avian-flu.shtml#:~:text=Human%20infections%20with%20avian%20flu%20viruses%20occur%20most%20often%20in,Flu%20to%20People%20(PDF).

"Human infections with avian flu viruses occur most often in people who have close contact with infected poultry or wild birds.

Infected birds have avian flu virus in their saliva, mucous, and feces. Humans can have contact with avian flu virus when a person touches a surface with virus on it, then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth. The virus can also be inhaled from droplets or dust in the air.

The spread of avian flu virus from one infected person to another is very rare. When it happens, it usually only spreads to a few people. However, since avian flu can cause severe symptoms in some people, monitoring for human infection and preventing the spread of avian flu is very important."

Answer 3

The claim posted here appears to be true. The provided article states that the H5N1 virus that affects dairy cows has the ability to adapt to humans if it can adapt to the receptor proteins on human cells. At the cell biology level, there are more specific actions that a bird flu virus needs to take in order for this to happen. An article from News Medical Life Sciences goes into such details- with the virus replicating itself multiple times via using it's two polymerases and a host cell protein (ANP32). However, parts of this host cell protein is not identical in birds and humans- so the virus's mutation from bird to human is not a one for one transcription and/or translation. For now, it is best to be aware and educated of bird flu, but to know that this mutation of the virus isn't exactly easy as one might think. 

Source: 

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20240819/Study-reveals-how-avian-flu-adapts-to-mammalian-cells.aspx

Answer 4

Yes, this is true, if a little exaggerated. It's possible for humans to catch the avian flu, as multiple sources have suggested, however it's incredibly rare and requires a specific mutation that hasn't been observed in the larger population of the virus. It is not so dramatic a concern as the article would suggest, but the base claim is absolutely true.