To Cause a Human Pandemic, the H5N1 Avian Flu Virus

Question

To cause a human pandemic, the H5N1 avian flu virus would have to
A) spread to primates such as chimpanzees.
B) develop into a virus with a different host range.
C) become capable of human-to-human transmission.
D) arise independently in chickens in North and South America.
E) become much more pathogenic.

Accepted Answer

Currently, the H5N1 avian flu virus primarily infects birds, and human infections have mostly occurred from contact with infected birds or their droppings. In order to cause a human pandemic, the virus would have to develop the ability to spread efficiently from person to person. This could occur through a mutation or recombination event that changes the virus's surface proteins to better latch onto human cells. Therefore, option C ("become capable of human-to-human transmission") is the correct choice.