The World Health Organization said a woman in China has died of bird flu, the first death from the virus in the country in seven years.
A 38-year-old woman from Guangxi Province contracted poultry in her backyard in September and was hospitalized with severe pneumonia, where she died in October.
She was one of only four people to have contracted the virus since the WHO last updated a month ago. The organization said all four came into close contact with the birds and the risk to the rest of the population was very low.
The H51N avian influenza strain spreads very easily between birds and has killed millions of wild and domestic birds worldwide over the past year, either as a result of the disease itself or as a result of culling.
However, according to the WHO and the UK Health Authority, there is currently no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the virus. There are concerns that the virus could mutate among infected minks, posing a greater risk to humans. The UKHSA and other scientists are monitoring the situation.
This is the first bird flu death in China since 2015.
Three other new cases involve a four-year-old girl in Vietnam who was admitted to intensive care after coming into contact with infected chickens and ducks in her family’s backyard, and two poultry farmers in Guadalajara, Spain.
Other people they came into contact with did not test positive.
In its latest update, WHO stated: “Although small clusters of A(H5) virus infections have previously been reported, including among healthcare workers, current epidemiological and virological data suggest that influenza A(H5) viruses are not acquired sustained transmission between people, so the chance is slim.”
The overall risk assessment for humans contracting avian influenza from infected birds has not changed, adding: “Most human cases were sporadic infections exposed to the A(H5) virus through contact with infected poultry or in contaminated environments, including live bird markets .
“As viruses continue to be detected in animals and their associated environments, additional human cases can be expected.”
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.