First death from H3N8 bird flu variant in China

by time news

Updated

The WHO has reported that the woman infected in February has died. After carrying out an epidemiological study, the Asian authorities have confirmed that no one around her has been infected.

Microscopic view of the strain.EM

Between March 31 and April 6, 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) was notified of a new case of human infection with avian influenza A(H3N8) virus in the Western Pacific Region. It was about a 56-year-old woman from Guangdong province who began with symptoms on February 22, 2023. The case was detected through the surveillance systems of severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) and was reported by the Center for Disease Control of the southern Chinese province of Guangdong.

She was hospitalized for severe pneumonia on March 3, 2023, and subsequently He died on March 16, 2023. The patient had other underlying pathologies, such as multiple myeloma, which made her situation worse. In addition, she had a history of exposure to live poultry prior to the onset of infection.

No close contact of the case has developed a picture of symptoms of disease at the time of the report, as stated in the WHO document of April 7, 2023. “Experts consider that this is a sporadic case and that the risk of contagion at this stage is low.“, collects the statement from the Chinese CDC.

Las environmental samples To carry out the epidemiological study, they were collected at the patient’s residence and in the wet market where the patient was exposed before the onset of the disease. Test results showed that samples collected from the wet market were positive for H3. To date, a total of 3 laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection.

The Disease Control Center of the Chinese province announced that a 56-year-old woman was infected with the H3N8 strain of bird flu. The patient was infected in the city of Zhongshan and had a history of exposure to live poultry before the detection of her disease, the institution reported on its website.

Its about third case of H3N8 in humans reported in the Asian country from April 2022. The Asian body recommends “avoid direct contact with live or dead birds in daily life” y “Separate raw meat from cooked meat“. Likewise, the health authorities advise that people with symptoms in their respiratory system wear a mask and inform a doctor if they have been in contact with birds.

According to the WHO, H3N8 avian influenza viruses are commonly detected worldwide in animals and they are common among domestic and wild birds, although contagion has been reported from several species of mammals. However, the WHO states that the risk of sustained human-to-human spread at regional, national, and international levels is low.

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