CDC says virus found in bird flu patient in Louisiana may cause disease to be transmitted to humans

A patient in Louisiana who was hospitalized with the bird flu has a genetic analysis conducted that showed a virus in the patient could potentially make the disease more transmittable to humans.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed this case earlier this month and said the patient who got the disease likely got it from coming in contact with sick and dead birds.

The patient has a strain called D1.1 which is close to viruses circulating in wild birds and poultry in the U.S. 

The analysis released earlier this week said that the mutations from the disease might increase the possibilities of the bird flu impacting humans. 

“The changes observed were likely generated by replication of this virus in the patient with advanced disease rather than primarily transmitted at the time of infection,” the CDC stated, according to CNN. 

“Although concerning, and a reminder that A(H5N1) viruses can develop changes during the clinical course of a human infection, these changes would be more concerning if found in animal hosts or in early stages of infection … when these changes might be more likely to facilitate spread to close contacts," the statement continued. 

The analysis also found that antiviral drugs likely wouldn't do well against the virus.