Can bird flu be passed from person to person?

To date, spread of the H5N1 virus between people has been extremely limited.

Flu viruses undergo regular genetic mutations. Experts warn that if H5N1, or another strain of avian influenza, mutates to become easily transferable from person to person, a global pandemic could occur with catastrophic results. Humans would have no immunity for such a new virus.

So far there is no evidence that such a mutation has occurred or that it is imminent. However, most experts agree that the next global influenza pandemic is on the horizon. The only question is, How soon?



Why doesn't bird flu spread easily from human to human?

Both bird and human flu viruses infect people by attaching themselves to cells in the respiratory tract. Currently, bird and human strains do this in two different locations.

Bird viruses prefer to bind with molecules located deep within the lungs. This remote location inside the body makes it more difficult to spread the bird flu virus by coughing or sneezing.

But scientists warn that the H5N1 virus could adapt and affect cells much higher up in the airway, where human flu viruses typically bind. If that occurs, the chances of a pandemic could be greatly increased.




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