The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported {that a} uncommon pressure of hen flu has prompted the primary identified human fatality in China, although there isn’t any proof that the virus spreads between folks.
The 56-year-old lady from the southern province of Guangdong was the third particular person identified to have been contaminated with the H3N8 subtype of avian influenza, the WHO mentioned in a press release late Tuesday.
All of the circumstances have been in China, with the primary two circumstances reported final yr.
The Guangdong Provincial Centre for Disease Control and Prevention reported the third an infection late final month however didn’t present particulars of the girl’s demise.
The affected person had a number of underlying situations, mentioned the WHO, and a historical past of publicity to stay poultry.
Sporadic infections in folks with hen flu are widespread in China the place avian flu viruses consistently flow into in enormous poultry and wild hen populations.
Samples collected from a moist market visited by the girl earlier than she turned unwell have been optimistic for influenza A(H3), mentioned the WHO, suggesting this may occasionally have been the supply of an infection.
Though uncommon in folks, H3N8 is widespread in birds during which it causes little to no signal of illness. It has additionally contaminated different mammals.
There have been no different circumstances discovered amongst shut contacts of the contaminated lady, the WHO mentioned.
“Based on available information, it appears that this virus does not have the ability to spread easily from person to person, and therefore the risk of it spreading among humans at the national, regional, and international levels is considered to be low,” the WHO mentioned within the assertion.
Monitoring of all avian influenza viruses is taken into account vital given their capacity to evolve and trigger a pandemic.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
