A Canadian teenager infected with H5N1 bird flu in November has made a full recovery, but scientists say worrying mutations have been found in her blood samples. Researchers in their case, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, expressed their concern over deleterious changes in the virus, which they think could allow the virus to target human cells more effectively, causing severe disease. Might be possible.

“Highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) virus infections acquired in North America can cause serious human disease. “Evidence of changes in HA that may increase binding to human airway receptors is worrying,” the authors said in the study.

In addition to the teens, the research team, along with officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local health departments, examined 46 human cases that occurred between March and October 2024. At least 66 human cases of H5N1 bird flu were reported across the United States in 2024.

What happened to the Canadian teen?

13 year old Canadian girl who had Asthma and Class 2 ObesityShe was initially admitted to a local emergency room after experiencing conjunctivitis and fever. However, he was discharged the same day without any treatment. But doctors said his condition deteriorated over the next three days and he started having cough, diarrhea and vomiting.

after which he complained Respiratory distress and hemodynamic instabilityHe was again admitted to the hospital, where his body struggled to maintain consistent blood flow and pressure.

After being transferred to the intensive care unit with respiratory failure, pneumonia, acute kidney injury, low platelet count and low white blood cell count, the girl tested negative for human seasonal influenza virus, despite a high viral load of influenza. This prompted caretakers to run a bird flu diagnosis, and it came back positive.

As the illness progressed over the next few days, he was intubated and placed on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a life-support technique for severe heart or lung conditions. Doctors prescribed three antiviral drugs, including oseltamivir, amantadine and baloxavir.

Teenager given plasma exchange therapy

To treat her, doctors said they were being very cautious with treatment because they feared causing a deadly cytokine storm – an excessive inflammatory response. And so, he gave daily plasma exchange therapy, which gradually improved his condition. He then tested negative for the virus.

According to experts, the viral load in her lower lungs remains consistently higher than in her upper respiratory tract, suggesting possible gaps in current diagnostic testing methods. However, after about a month of treatment, she completely recovered and was later discharged from the hospital.

H5N1 variant of bird flu virus found in genetic sequencing of girl

Researchers said they conducted a test genetic sequencing of virusesThat was isolated from the juvenile, and it showed the D1.1 strain of H5N1 – a variant found in wild birds. And so, it was noted that mutations could increase the virus’s ability to replicate in human cells, making it more pathogenic.

A similar mutation was also identified in a patient from Louisiana, US, who developed severe disease.

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