The flu is spread mainly from person - to - person via respiratory droplets when people cough, sneeze, or talk, or possibly, when a person touches a surface or object that has the flu virus on it and then touches their own mouth or nose. (cdc.gov)
Today, Nature published a controversial study in ferrets that shows how scientists can engineer an avian influenza strain to transmit between mammals through respiratory droplets such as those created by coughing or sneezing. (sciencemag.org)
One focus will be figuring out exactly which mutations enable the H5N1 virus to move between mammals through the air or in respiratory droplets. (sciencemag.org)