The Pasteur Institute in France warns that a mutation of the bird flu virus (avian influenza) could lead to a pandemic more severe than COVID-19. Marie-Anne Rameix-Welti, head of the respiratory infections center, stated that such a mutation might make the virus transmissible between humans, causing a serious global health crisis. While the risk of human-to-human transmission remains low, experts emphasize that if the virus adapts to infect humans more efficiently, it could result in a significant outbreak. The virus primarily affects wild birds, with recent outbreaks leading to the culling of over 1.5 million poultry in Germany alone. Despite the current low risk of a pandemic, there have been nearly 1,000 human cases since 2003, with a mortality rate of 48%. A recent case in the US involved a man with pre-existing conditions who died after being infected with the H5N5 subtype, marking the first human death from this strain. The World Health Organization reports that humans generally have antibodies against seasonal flu but not against H5N1 or H5N5 bird flu viruses. Experts warn that if the virus adapts to humans, it could spread rapidly, and vaccination and antiviral stockpiles are in place to mitigate the threat. Nonetheless, virologist Alexander Kekulé warns that if the virus manages to bind to human cells, a new pandemic is almost certain.