Should you worry about the potential impact of the H5N1 virus on humans? CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook explains the current risk and what officials are watching for.
After bird flu jumped to dairy cows in March, the H5N1 virus has spread among cattle across nine different states, stoking fears about the potential impact of the virus on humans. Public health officials are closely monitoring for any signs H5N1 is mutating into a form that could spread from human to human, CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook told 'CBS Mornings' on Friday. 'There's no evidence that has happened yet, but that's the big concern,' he said.
'This is why the CDC and others trying to stay on top of things, LaPook said, so changes don't happen without us realizing — making tracking the virus important. Dr. Larry Brilliant, an epidemiologist who has worked in public health since helping to eradicate smallpox in the 1970s, told LaPook he doesn't think there is enough testing going on.'They should activate every surveillance system that would help them find out which animals are sick.
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