Avian flu has put China on alert. Photo / AP
The People’s Republic of China confirmed the first case of bird flu H3N8 to people, although local health authorities have ensured that low risk of person-to-person transmissionreported by official sources.
According to China’s National Health Commission (NHC), the spread happened to a four -year -old boy living in the central province of Henanwho tested positive for the strain after being hospitalized due to fever and other symptoms.
According to the data gathered, the child’s family raises chickens at home and lives in an area where mallards livesaid the CNS in a statement.
Ducks and chickens are the main carriers of bird flu in China. image/file
Story of a Chinese boy who had bird flu
“The little one was directly infected by the birds and the strain has not been identified “capable of infecting humans,” they explained from the Chinese Health Commission (CNS), which added that tests on contacts near the child did not see an “anomaly”.
The CNS noticed that the boy’s case is “a single cross-species transmission, and the risk of large-scale transmission is low”.
however, warns the public to stay away from dead or sick birds and seek immediate treatment in cases of fever or respiratory symptoms.
Avian influenza occurs primarily in wild and domesticated birds, but cases of human-to-human transmission are very rare.
How is bird flu spread?
Bird flu strains are spread through the saliva, feces, and mucus of birds. When it comes in contact with the eyes, nose, or mouth of people or species, the virus enters the body and begins to develop the disease.
Such as coronavirus, andContagion occurs when droplets are in the air and inhaled or when a contaminated surface is touched. and touched the mouth, nose or eyes with the hand.
avian flu The new focus of infection has occurred in Henan province. Photo/Reuter
What are the symptoms of bird flu
Based on what is known about the single registered case, the symptoms vary. One of the most important is the increased body temperature, mucous secretion and symptoms of a common flu.
Influenza viruses have a high mutation rate that allows the virus to produce many different combinations.
Influenza A viruses can be divided into different subtypes depending on the genes that make up their surface proteins, hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N).
Hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N) virus proteins are the major sites of antigenic recognition of the host immune system.
In dogs, the disease causes cough, runny nose, fever, dizziness, poor appetite, and eye discharge. however, Not everyone affected shows symptoms. In horses, the virus causes fever and discharge of the virus by secretion through the nose.
The history of the H3N8 bird flu strain
The H3N8 strain has been in circulation since 2002, after appearing in North American waterfowland there was an infection in horses, dogs and seals, but not seen in humans, officials said.
Furthermore, H5N1 and H7N9 strains of avian influenza detected in 1979 and 2013 were responsible for the majority of human disease cases due to avian influenzaaccording to the U.S. Center for Disease Control.
Source: Clarin
