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A man in Chile is infected with bird flu that has “concerning” mutations, US health officials have said.
The mutations may have occurred after the 53-year-old, who is in hospital, became sick.
But there is no evidence the mutated virus has spread to other people, mixed with other flu viruses, or developed resistance to current medicines or vaccines.
The threat to people from the virus is low, Vivien Dugan from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said.
“Nevertheless, it’s important to continue to look carefully at every instance of human infection,” she added.
“We need to remain vigilant for changes that would make these viruses more dangerous to people.”
Past animal studies suggest mutations could cause the bird flu virus to be more harmful or spread more easily.
But there is no evidence these mutations would make it easier for the virus to take root in a person’s upper lungs – a development that would cause concern about spread among people.
Similar mutations have been found in past bird flu infections.
Read more:
Cambodia girl, 11, dies from bird flu
Scientists on alert for bird flu as seabirds return to UK
What is bird flu?
Bird flu, called Type A H5N1, was first identified during a 1997 outbreak in Hong Kong when visitors to live poultry markets caught it.
More than 450 people have died from bird flu in the past two decades, according to the World Health Organization.
The vast majority of people infected got it directly from birds.
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It comes as UK authorities announced bird flu protection measures will be lifted next…
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