China records world's first human death from H3N8 bird flu, WHO says

BEIJING: The World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that a Chinese woman has become the first person who has passed away from a type of bird flu that is exceptional in humans, but the strain does not appear to transmit between people. The WHO said in a statement late on Tuesday that the 56-year-old lady from the southern province acute Guangdong was the third individual to have been infected with the H3N8 genotype of avian influenza. The first two cases were recorded last year, and all of the cases have been in China. Late this month, the Guangdong Provincial Centre for Disease Control and Prevention announced the third infection, although it made no mention of the woman's passing. The WHO reported that the patient had a history and numerous underlying illnesses.

In China, where avian flu viruses are frequently spread across vast populations consisting of domestic poultry and wild birds, sporadic infections in people with bird flu are quite prevalent.

The WHO said that samples taken from a wet market the woman visited before becoming unwell tested positive for influenza A(H3), showing this may have been the location of infection.

H3N8 is widespread in birds, where it cause little to no illness symptoms despite being rare in humans. Infected mammals include other mammals.

The WHO disclosed that none of the affected woman's close contacts had any more instances.

According to the information that exists right now, the risk of this virus spreading to humans is limited because it does not appear to advance quickly from person to person.

The capacity of all avian influenza viruses to develop and spread a pandemic makes monitoring of these viruses crucial.

The H3N8 bird flu virus is a subtype of the influenza A virus and is usually found in birds, particularly wild waterfowl. While it has been known to cause severe illness and death in birds, it has not been known to infect humans before. However, there have been reports of the virus jumping from birds to mammals, such as dogs and seals, in recent years.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that there is currently no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission of the H3N8 virus. However, they have urged countries to be vigilant and to step up surveillance of influenza-like illnesses, particularly in areas where there are live bird markets or where people come into close contact with birds.

The Chinese government has also taken measures to control the spread of the virus, including closing live bird markets in Guangzhou and stepping up surveillance of the local poultry industry. They have also announced plans to cull thousands of birds in the affected areas.

The H3N8 bird flu virus is just one of several strains of influenza that pose a threat to human health. In recent years, there have been outbreaks of other strains, such as H5N1 and H7N9, which have caused severe illness and death in humans. Public health officials around the world are working to develop vaccines and other interventions to prevent and control the spread of these viruses.

In conclusion, the news of the world's first human death from the H3N8 bird flu virus is a cause for concern, but it is important to remember that the risk of human-to-human transmission is currently low. However, the situation highlights the need for continued vigilance and preparedness in the face of emerging infectious diseases.