A bird flu strain that claimed the life of a schoolgirl in Cambodia has evolved to better infect human cells, in a worrying sign. Scientists on the ground who made the discovery said the finding 'needs to be treated with the utmost concern'. They added that there were 'some indications' the virus had already 'gone through' a human and picked up the new mutations before infecting the girl. The 11-year-old girl, from Prey Veng province, last week became the first victim of H5N1 in 2023. Her father has also tested positive for the virus but has not developed symptoms.