As the H5N1 bird flu virus mutates and rapidly spreads through American cattle herds — a first for the U.S. — doctors and veterinarians are fearful that if the virus is left unchecked, it could spiral into a possible pandemic

Avian influenza is constantly changing. Every new infection increases the odds bird flu could potentially become more deadly or easily transmissible between humans, infectious disease expert Dr. Kamran Khan warns. Today, the virus does not spread person to person, but Khan warns that could change. His company BlueDot was among the first to flag the virus in China that led to the COVID pandemic. Khan said bird flu is just as concerning.

Khan said he wants people to know "this is a very serious threat to humanity" and that the longer bird flu is left to spread, "the greater the risks are going to be."

"We are really at risk of this virus evolving into one that has pandemic potential," Khan said. "And the reality is none of us know whether this is next week, or next year, or never. I don't think it's never. But it may be here far sooner than any of us would like."
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bird-flu-pandemic-potential-scientists-60-minutes/