Can bird flu survive a human fever?

Yes, new research suggests bird flu viruses can replicate at temperatures higher than a typical human fever.

What allows bird flu to withstand fever?

A specific gene, PB1, identified by researchers, enables avian flu viruses to tolerate elevated temperatures.

Why is gene swapping important for bird flu?

Gene swapping between bird and human flu viruses can create new, potentially more dangerous strains, increasing pandemic risk.

Home / Health / Bird Flu's Fever-Proof Secret Revealed

Bird Flu's Fever-Proof Secret Revealed

28 Nov, 2025

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Summary

Bird flu viruses can replicate at temperatures higher than human fevers.
A specific gene allows avian flu viruses to withstand fever.
Gene swapping between human and bird flu poses a pandemic threat.

International research led by the University of Cambridge and the University of Glasgow has uncovered how bird flu viruses can overcome fever, a key human defense. These viruses appear to replicate effectively at temperatures exceeding a typical fever, challenging our natural immunity.

The study pinpointed a specific gene, PB1, crucial for viral replication, that grants avian influenza viruses resistance to high temperatures. This finding is particularly concerning because viruses can exchange genes, a phenomenon observed in past pandemics where avian genes transferred to human flu strains.