CDC Monitors Bird Flu Mutation as U.S. Cases Rise in Humans and Animals

Experts warn of potential pandemic risks after mutations in H5N1 and high fatality rates in cats, while human-to-human transmission remains unconfirmed.

The CDC has reported 66 human cases of H5N1 bird flu in the U.S., with most linked to exposure to infected animals, but no human-to-human transmission has occurred so far.
California leads with 37 human cases, prompting the state to declare a state of emergency; bird flu has been detected in birds across 51 jurisdictions in 10 states.
A mutation in the virus, observed in a patient, raises concerns about increased transmissibility, though experts believe it occurred during the patient's illness rather than in wildlife.
Cats have shown alarming vulnerability to the virus, with a 90% fatality rate in recent cases; experts warn that cats could act as 'mixing vessels' for human and bird flu strains.
Health officials urge precautions such as avoiding contact with sick or dead animals, cooking meat thoroughly, and monitoring pets for symptoms to reduce risks of infection.