While the H3N8 avian flu, circulating in China since 2002, had no human victims (at least of those that are known), a woman died after contracting this virus, indicated Tuesday April 11 the World Organization health (WHO). The H3N8 virus, which first appeared on the North American continent, was until now thought to be capable of being transmitted to horses, dogs and sea lions. It had not been detected in humans until the first two non-fatal cases in China in April and May 2022.
The deceased is a 56-year-old resident of Guandong Province in southeast China. She fell ill on February 22, was hospitalized with severe pneumonia on March 3 and died on March 16, according to the WHO.
"None of the close contacts of this case had developed an infection or symptoms of illness at the time of writing this report," the WHO said.
Visiting a live bird market could have caused this contamination, but "the exact source of this infection remains to be determined, as well as the link between this virus and the other avian influenza type A (H3N8) circulating in the environment. animal," the WHO said, calling for research into the matter.
The organization stressed that the available data showed that this virus is not transmitted between humans and therefore "the risk of its spread nationally, regionally and globally is considered to be low".
The WHO, however, stressed the need for constant monitoring due to the permanent mutations of the viruses.
