Helen Branswell covers issues broadly related to infectious diseases, including outbreaks, preparedness, research, and vaccine development. Follow her on Mastodon and Bluesky. You can reach Helen on ...

A new study has raised alarm bells about the potential for the H5N1 bird flu virus to evolve into a strain sparking a human pandemic. A single mutation in the virus currently ravaging dairy farms ...

A single modification in the protein found on the surface of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 influenza virus currently circulating in U.S. dairy cows could allow for easier ...

Concern surrounding the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 influenza virus currently circulating in dairy cows in the United States is growing. A total of 58 human cases have been reported as of ...

Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. I hope you’re enjoying your Saturday. I know my husband is — he’s currently putting holiday outfits on our two dogs, Princess Leia and ...

In the lab, the authors of the study found that a single mutation in the primary protein, hemagglutinin (which is what the H in H5N1 stands for) could give it the ability to cling onto receptors found ...

Scientists from the Scripps Research Institute are reporting that it would take just a single mutation in the version of bird flu that has swept through U.S. dairy herds to produce a virus adept at ...