Bird flu patient had virus mutations, sparking concern about human spread

The CDC analyzed samples of the H5N1 virus that were collected from the patient, comparing its genomic sequences to those of infected dairy cows, wild birds, poultry and other animals, the agency stated.

"The analysis identified low frequency mutations in the hemagglutinin gene of a sample sequenced from the patient, which were not found in virus sequences from poultry samples collected on the patient's property, suggesting the changes emerged in the patient after infection," the CDC said.

The CDC maintains that the risk to the general public is still low.

"The same mutations were not present in viral genomes sampled from the backyard birds that presumably infected the individual," Samuel Scarpino, director of AI and life sciences and professor of health sciences at Northeastern University in Boston, confirmed to Fox News Digital. 

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News senior medical analyst, told Fox News Digital, shared his thoughts on the significance of this finding.

"It is somewhat concerning that the H5N1 bird flu virus found in the Louisiana patient showed a mutation that allowed it to enter the upper airways more easily in this patient, but this mutation has been seen before," he told Fox News Digital.

"We know the mutations to look out for in terms of the potential to spread among humans" based on previous research, Siegel said. 

"It is important that surveillance among domestic poultry and dairy cattle is extensive," he added. 

Scarpino agreed that while the mutations are "concerning," they "likely do not represent an increased risk to the public."

"To date, it does not appear as though the individual in Louisiana transmitted the infection to other people."

The doctor cautioned, however, that the more opportunities the virus has to infect people, the more likely similar mutations will occur and spark a "chain of transmission" in humans. 

"Each human infection represents a spin of the epidemic roulette wheel," Scarpino said.