HHS-Funded Experiments Create Bird Flu Pathogens with ‘Mammalian-Adaptive’ Mutations
May 23rd, 2026Via: Jon Fleetwood:
A newly released NIAID-funded preprint reveals that U.S. government-funded researchers claim to have created bird flu pathogens specifically selected for known “mammalian-adaptive” mutations, genetic changes said to help purported avian influenza viruses spread more efficiently in mammals.
The move comes amid unprecedented international influenza pandemic orchestration, covered extensively on this website.
The new study, published online ahead of print earlier this month, says one reconstructed human H5N1 strain virus transmitted between ferrets with 100% efficiency.
The study, titled “Variable transmission efficiency of mammalian origin HPAI D1.1 H5N1 strains in ferrets,” was conducted by researchers from Emory University, the University of Pittsburgh, and the Center for Vaccine Research.
