A four-year-old boy living in central Henan province was hospitalized earlier this month with fever and other symptoms. H3N8 was confirmed during treatment here. The child’s family raises chickens at home. The NHC said in a statement that it also lives in an area densely populated by wild ducks.
The boy is believed to have contracted the disease directly from birds. However, officials said it was unlikely to be widespread in humans. Those who have been in contact with the child have no symptoms yet. The public has been warned to stay away from dead or sick birds and seek immediate treatment for fever and respiratory symptoms.
Avian Influenza, also known as avian influenza, is found mainly in wild and poultry. Cases transmitted between humans are very rare. At the same time, the U.S. Center for Disease Control says that the H5N1 and H7N9 strains of bird flu that were discovered in 1997 and 2013 are responsible for most human diseases from avian influenza.
According to the World Health Organization, these diseases are primarily caused by direct contact with infected animals or polluted environments. However, these viruses do not spread widely among humans.
In 2012, H3N8 was found to have killed more than 160 seals off the northeastern coast of the United States following a deadly pneumonia in animals.