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Mar/12/2025

Bird flu-infected San Bernardino County dairy cows may have concerning new mutation

Susanne Rust
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The Los Angeles Times:

  • A genetic mutation has appeared in dairy cows that could make the virus more deadly and transmissible from mammal to mammal.
  • The PB2 E627K mutation was identified in sequences of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) influenza A(H5N1) virus, clade 2.3.4.4b, genotype B3.13 uploaded into the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID) on Tuesday March 11th, 2025.
  • Scientists suspect the virus sequences originated from dairy herds in San Bernardino County [California, USA].