pandemics

H5N1 bird flu is closer to gaining pandemic potential than we thought

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A highly infectious strain of bird flu has been circulating worldwide since 2020 ULISES RUIZ/AFP via Getty Images The H5N1 bird flu virus that has spread worldwide is already better at infecting people than earlier strains. What’s more, a single mutation could allow it to infect the cells lining our noses and throats, making it … Read more

Waste surveillance at just 20 airports could spot the next pandemic

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A network of airports like Hong Kong International Airport could effectively detect disease outbreaks Yuen Man Cheung / Natural A global early-warning system for disease outbreaks and even future pandemics is possible with minimal monitoring: testing the waste water from a fraction of international flight arrivals at just 20 airports around the world. When passengers … Read more