The strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza that has killed millions of wild and commercially raised birds in at least 70 countries over the past year could mutate in a way that makes mammals, including humans, susceptible, says veterinarian Shayan Sharif, a professor at the University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College. “Because this is an airborne virus, and it can be transmitted through aerosols or large droplets very similar to what we saw for COVID-19,” said Dr. Sharif, who is working on developing an avian influenza vaccine.
