The H7N9 bird Flu virus has influenza scientists on edge, due to an unexpected surge of human infections — hundreds of cases — caused by the virus this spring. Bird flu viruses don't spread easily from ferret to ferret; if a modified H7N9 virus did, that would suggest it might do the same in people. Flu viruses attach to receptors found on the cells of their intended victims. Fouchier, who has done work trying to see how H5N1 bird flu viruses could adapt to infect people, was not involved in this study. Bird flu viruses attach to one type of receptor.
A bird flu pandemic looms but the US is holding back the fight
Leader: "Why bird flu risk is like the Grenfell Tower tragedy" The H7N9 virus has had its deadliest year since it emerged in 2013. The virus is thought to be causing milder, undiagnosed disease in far more people, and each infection is a chance for it to evolve. The idea that H7N9 could gain the ability to spread readily via humans keeps virologists up at night. Since October, 714 people in China have become seriously ill, almost as many as in the previous four years combined.collected by :Lucy William
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