More from the article...

... While several of these morphing mutations are usually needed to put humans in danger from avian influenza, this time the transformation process could be quicker, scientists from the Scripps Research Institute in California found [link in the article].

"The findings demonstrate how easily this virus could evolve to recognize human-type receptors," says infectious disease scientist Ting-Hui Lin, first author of the new study. ...

A virus needs to locate compatible receptors on host cells to trigger an infection " something H5N1 has found in birds and animals, but not humans.

The researchers investigated the H5N1 2.3.4.4b strain of the virus found in recent human infections, finding that a single amino acid mutation in a key protein would be enough to switch the virus target from avian-type receptors to human-type receptors.

This mutation, labeled Q226L, could act like a new pair of glasses for the virus, allowing it to recognize landing points on human cells.

"Our experiments revealed that the Q226L mutation could significantly increase the virus' ability to target and attach to human-type receptors," says biochemist James Paulson. ...

@#2 ... "New Pandemic"?

And look see who we've got to protect us after 01/20/25. ...

Yeah, that was (is) my concern also.

And a reason why I was initially reluctant to post this thread.

So far, the possible outcome in the article is just that, as the article states -- a possible outcome.

At this point, I am quite happy it is being monitored by government medical professionals.

fwiw, here's the original (and, if i may add, apparently not yet peer-reviewed) research article...

@#9

Thanks for the correction.