The World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Tuesday, April 11, that a woman died in China from the H3N8 avian flu virus, which has been circulating since 2002 but has not yet been documented to cause human deaths.
The Unexpected Death
It was previously believed that the virus, which initially surfaced on the North American continent, could spread to horses, dogs, and sea lions. Before the first two non-fatal occurrences in China in April and May of 2022, it had not been discovered in humans.
As per LePoint, the deceased is a native of southeast China’s Guandong Province and was 56 years old. According to the WHO, she became unwell on February 22, was admitted to the hospital with acute pneumonia on March 3, and passed away on March 16.
Possible Source Of Disease
The WHO stated that this contamination might have been brought on by visiting a live bird market. Still, the precise source of this infection remains to be identified, as well as the connection between this virus and another strain of avian influenza type A (H3N8) circulating within the animal environment. The organization urged further study into the matter.
WHO emphasized that there is no evidence of this virus spreading from person to person, and “the risk of its spread at the national, regional, and global level is considered to be low.”
WHO recommends countries raise general awareness of the need to avoid contact with high-risk areas, such as live animal markets/farms, live poultry, or surfaces that may be contaminated by poultry or bird faeces, to reduce the possibility of infection. When in a potentially hazardous area, it is advised to wash hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer regularly and to wear respiratory protection.
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