Mutated form of avian influenza that strikes canines is 'creeping' towards being able to infect humans, scientists say Virus has descended from a type of avian flu first detected in dogs in 2006
Study found the virus is better able to recognise human cell receptors
Read more: First H3N8 bird flu victim may have caught virus from a wet market
Humans could one day be struck down by ‘dog flu’ – a mutated form of avian influenza which is slowly evolving.
H3N2 seeded itself in dogs almost two decades ago. It can cause pooches to suffer from a runny nose and cough and be deadly in extreme cases.
Since then, it has become established within canines and evolved to become a dog-specific virus.
But Chinese researchers have uncovered signs that the same pathogen may now be better suited to infecting humans.
Tests virus samples taken from dogs infected recently were better able to recognise human cell receptors, compared to those from a decade ago.
Poster Comment:
Chinese researchers? Wet Market? All we need is Fauci and Bill Gates for a boxed set.
PC is slow today. Read the rest st link.