Can avian influenza be the next pandemic after Coronavirus? Scientists do not rule out this possibility and feel that a single mutation can make H5N1 virus much more infectious for humans. A potential mutation in the H5N1 avian influenza virus is likely to increase its ability to infect humans, a genetic change that could lead to the next pandemic, as per experts.
A study published in Science and funded by NIH highlights a mutation in the virus’s protein, which could enable it to better bind to human cell receptors. While the risk of human-to-human transmission remains low, scientists are closely monitoring the virus.
