China announces first human infection with H10N3 bird flu virus – Science

The Chinese Health Commission stated that this is the first human infection with the H10N3 bird flu virus in history, according to a statement published by the commission on Tuesday. 160 birds were infected with the variant between 1978 and 2018. It is mainly related to wild birds.

H10N3 is a less dangerous, low pathogenic type of poultry virus. According to health authorities, the chance of a large-scale outbreak is very small and it is an isolated case.

Unknown source of infection

It is about a 41-year-old from Zhenjiang, a city in Jiangsu Province of China. The Chinese National Health Commission said the man was hospitalized on April 28 after he began showing fever and other symptoms five days earlier. A month later, on May 28, doctors diagnosed him with the H10N3 virus. Meanwhile, the Chinese are settled again and will soon be allowed to leave the hospital.

It is not known exactly how the man became infected. His regional colleagues he had close contact with were closely followed, but for now no other cases have surfaced.

Many variables

This is not the first time that a new type of poultry virus has appeared in China. There are many different variables and new infections appear sporadically, most of them in people who work with poultry. The last eruption dates back to some years ago. In 2016 and 2017, the dangerous variant H7N9 claimed 300 Chinese lives. No outbreaks were reported outside China at that time.

Avoid contact with birds

The H10N3 variant may not be highly contagious, but the health committee has urged citizens to avoid contact with live and dead birds. In addition, Chinese citizens should pay attention to the cleanliness of their food and contact a doctor immediately if they develop a fever, difficulty breathing, or other symptoms.

The Chinese Health Commission stated that this is the first human infection with the H10N3 bird flu virus in history, according to a statement published by the commission on Tuesday. 160 birds were infected with the variant between 1978 and 2018. It is mainly related to wild birds. H10N3 is a less dangerous, low pathogenic type of poultry virus. According to health authorities, the chance of a large-scale outbreak is very small and it is an isolated case. It is about a 41-year-old from Zhenjiang, a city in Jiangsu Province of China. The Chinese National Health Commission said the man was hospitalized on April 28 after he began showing fever and other symptoms five days earlier. A month later, on May 28, doctors diagnosed him with the H10N3 virus. Meanwhile, the Chinese are settled again and will soon be allowed to leave the hospital. It is not known exactly how the man became infected. His regional colleagues he had close contact with were closely followed, but for now no other cases have surfaced. This is not the first time that a new type of poultry virus has appeared in China. There are many different variables and new infections appear sporadically, most of them in people who work with poultry. The last eruption dates back to some years ago. In 2016 and 2017, the dangerous variant H7N9 claimed 300 Chinese lives. No outbreaks were reported outside China at that time. The H10N3 variant may not be highly contagious, but the health committee has urged citizens to avoid contact with live and dead birds. In addition, Chinese citizens should pay attention to the cleanliness of their food and contact a doctor immediately if they develop a fever, difficulty breathing, or other symptoms.