This article, published in Science, details a study to determine the potential for avian influenza A/H5N1 viruses to become transmissible via respiratory droplets between mammals in nature. From surveillance data, the researchers concluded that some of these viruses might require only three additional amino acid substitutions to become transmissible between mammals. The results of this study highlight areas where more data are needed to assess, and potentially avert, the threat of influenza A/H5N1 evolving in nature to become transmissible between humans.

Author(s): Russell CA, Fonville JM, Brown AEX, et al.

Published: 2012

Resource types: Peer-reviewed journal

Diseases: Influenza

Topics: Disease/vaccine specific information

Regions: Global