Bird Flu Strain H9N2 Adapts To Human Cells, Scientists Raise Pandemic Fears

New findings published in the journal Nature, led by a clinical microbiologist, Kelvin To, at the University of Hong Kong, revealed that the bird flu virus that typically causes minor disease in birds and animals now has the potential to infect people.

Bird flu is a type of influenza virus that typically occurs in birds and animals, but a new study confirms that the H9N2 strain has lately adapted to human cells, which may result in a human pandemic.

Bird Flu Strain H9N2 Infected 173 People Since 1998

New findings published in the journal Nature, led by a clinical microbiologist, Kelvin To, at the University of Hong Kong, revealed that the bird flu virus that typically causes minor disease in birds and animals now has the potential to infect people.

The lead scientist in a publication says that less attention is being paid to the H9N2 virus despite the virus being the second common strain of bird flu that can usually infect people. According to reports, the H9N2 strain has so far infected 173 people since 1998, mostly in China. The clinical microbiologist presented the research at the Pandemic Research Alliance International Symposium in Melbourne, Australia, on 27 October.

H9N2 Virus More Infectious Compared To 2015

As of now, scientists have yet to determine person-to-person transmission of the H9N2 virus, which would be required for a pandemic to start. However, To and his team’s study that began in the year 2015 found that the H9N2 underwent genetic changes over the years that have made the pathogen more infectious.

Can H9N2 Virus Cause A Pandemic?

Providing an expert opinion, Michelle Wille, Senior Researcher at the Peter Doherty Institute, who was not involved in the study, explained that the virus has to undergo several stages of changes before it could begin person-to-person infectious. She explains that the virus has to change to preferentially bind to human receptors and instead of receptors found in the birds, including how well it adapts to the temperature and PH levels of humans that are different from birds.

Symptoms Of H9N2 On Humans

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that avian influenza in humans may cause several diseases ranging from mild upper respiratory tract infection to more severe diseases that can be fatal. It confirms that a laboratory test is required to diagnose human infection with H9N2.

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