AI Uncovers Rapid Bird Flu Mutation: Experts Warn of Looming Human Pandemic
United States: The bird flu strain changes rapidly, according to research conducted by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, which indicates its potential danger to human health.
A research team discovered that the H5N1 virus better understands how it spreads between mammals, according to its scientific name, bird flu.
Virus Spreads to Cattle and Humans
At least 64 people have contracted bird flu, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), among the various infected animals, including cows.
Research shows the mutating virus presents an increasing threat of human transmission.
According to the lead author, Colby Ford, in a news release. He’s a visiting scholar at UNC Charlotte’s Center for Computational Intelligence to Predict Health and Environmental Risks (CIPHER), “An H5N1 vaccine made (for an earlier strain) will have less efficacy,” US News reported.
Furthermore, as the co-author Dan Janies, who is the CIPHER co-director, said, large amounts of data can be quickly analyzed using artificial intelligence “to assess our preparedness for important problems such as H5N1, which is spreading rapidly to new hosts and regions including American cattle and farm workers.”
Vaccine Efficacy Under Threat
Scientists discovered that contemporary virus strains develop efficient evasion techniques, which may reduce the protection provided by prior infections and immunizations.
At present, bird flu is an animal disease pandemic. Hundred species of different birds and short mammals have fallen prey to this infection.
Scientists have identified the virus in bigger mammalian species, particularly cattle.
Scientists state the virus spread to humans becomes more probable as the virus undergoes this evolutionary change.
AI Reveals Rising Pandemic Risk
A research paper on this topic appeared in the scientific journal eBioMedicine. A different study in progress demonstrates that the virus possesses changed a significant gene.
The gene functions to permit the virus entry into cellular structures of mammals while allowing it to evade immune defense mechanisms.
The research of quickly adapting viruses requires immediate attention.
“In this study, our aim is to be more forward-looking to predict the potential health impacts of H5N1 influenza before a major event catches us off guard,” as Janies stated.
Analyses of more than 1,800 virus-antibody interactions became possible through pandemic-developed tools. Scientists analyzed how the H5N1 virus can enter cells by studying its hemagglutinin (HA) proteins.
Research shows the virus accelerates its propagation in order to evade immune system detection.
