The World Health Organization (WHO) reported the first death in the world of a Chinese woman from H3N8 avian influenza. But there are no reports of human-to-human transmission.
A WHO statement published late Tuesday said the deceased was a 56-year-old woman from Guangdong province. It is the world’s third human case of H3N8 avian influenza, a rare strain found in humans.
All three cases of the avian influenza were in China, with the first two being reported as sick last year.
The Guangdong Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported a third case of H3N8 in March, but did not provide details about the woman’s death. However, according to the WHO, she had a history of exposure. with live birds and have a pre-existing disease
China has been found to be infected with bird flu from time to time. Because the virus spreads to poultry farms and wild bird populations, which are large.
From collecting samples at a wet market the woman had been to before she fell ill. He tested positive for influenza A(H3), which WHO assumed was the likely cause of infection.
Although it is a species that is rare in humans. But H3N8 avian influenza is more common in poultry which may show no symptoms at all. and can also communicate with other mammals
The WHO confirmed that there was “no known” transmission of the virus to close contacts of the woman.
“From the available information It does not appear that this virus is easily transmitted from person to person. Therefore, the risk of infection at the national, regional or international level is still low,” WHO said.
source: Reuters
