How Two Deadly Bird Flu Types Formed and Moved Into Humans
The jump of H5N1 into cattle is a major shift. It creates new ways for the virus to reach people and complicates public communication at a time when trust is already low.
Background
Bird flu (H5N1) first appeared in poultry in Scotland in 1959 and subsequently jumped to humans in Hong Kong in 1997, resulting in 18 cases and six deaths. Since 2013, a branch called clade 2.3.4.4 has spread worldwide in wild and domestic birds, often swapping genes with local flu strains.
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