Scientists on Thursday warned about the possibility that the avian influenza (H5N1) virus is adapting among mammals.

Spillovers of avian influenza from poultry and wild birds to other mammals have been recorded around the world since at least January 2022, raising concerns about how this could impact its spread to humans. according to According to a study published in the journal Nature.

“The concern is that a mutation could arise that could adapt to mammals, spill over to humans, and become efficiently transmissible to humans in the future,” study author Diego Diel told the Cornell Chronicle. In a statement.

The latest study found no core mutations in the disease's genome sequence, suggesting the virus may be adapting to a variety of mammalian hosts, Deal added. Dairy cows are one of the most notable examples, with infections reported in cats and raccoons as well as cows in several US states.

new @Nature
Spillover of H5N1 influenza from birds to cattle, outbreaks on nine farms investigatedhttps://t.co/6CwASFSlZT
—Unprecedented evidence of efficient and persistent mammal-to-mammal transmission
— DNA sequence of transmission “highlights the virus's ability…” pic.twitter.com/me7MUMSYOT

— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) July 24, 2024

Since April 2022, 11 human cases of avian influenza have been reported in the United States, with only five of those confirmed to be H5N1. according to The cases were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One of the patients, a resident of Texas, had contact with dairy cows and was likely infected with a highly virulent strain of avian influenza.

Of the 11 suspected cases, four had contact with dairy cattle between May and July 2024, while the remaining seven had contact with poultry between May 2022 and July 2024. (Related: Authorities issue warning of deadly bird flu outbreak in humans)

Deal called for close monitoring of infected animals for the virus and its possible transmission to humans to prevent future outbreaks.