Health

Risk of bird flu outbreak in cows causing pandemic is less than feared

Cow udders have lots of bird-like flu virus receptors but no human-like ones, a study has found, meaning there’s no reason for the virus to evolve to become better at infecting people

By Michael Le Page

29 May 2024

Cattle seem to be more susceptible to bird flu than humans
Stocktrek Images/Alamy

The risk of the bird flu outbreak among dairy cows in the US triggering a human flu pandemic may be lower than feared.

Cow udders have lots of bird-like flu virus binding sites but no human-like ones, a study has found, meaning there is no reason for the virus to evolve inside cows to become better at infecting people.

How a universal flu vaccine could prevent the next pandemic

However, if farm workers continue to be infected, the virus will still have a chance…

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Risk of bird flu outbreak in cows causing pandemic is less than feared

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