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Is H5N1 going to evolve into a strain of pandemic influenza?

April 26, 2017evolve going H5N1 Influenza Pandemic strain

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Is H5N1 going to evolve into a strain of pandemic influenza?

2 Answers

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We don’t know for sure whether or not H5N1 will evolve into a pandemic strain. It has shown the ability to mutate so it is a concern. Influenza viruses are constantly changing over time, and it is possible that changes in the H5N1 virus currently circulating in parts of Asia, Europe and Africa could result in a virus that is more efficiently transmissible to and among humans. While there have recently been changes in the virus, there is currently no indication that the virus has changed to a form that could result in a pandemic. This possibility is being closely monitored by the World Health Organization.

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We don’t know for sure whether or not H5N1 will evolve into a pandemic strain but it has shown the ability to mutate so it is a concern. Influenza viruses are constantly changing over time and it is possible that changes in the virus currently affecting Vietnam and Thailand can result in a virus that is more efficiently transmissible to and among humans. While there have recently been changes in the virus, there is currently no indication that the virus has changed to a form that could result in a pandemic. This possibility is being closely monitored.