First human case of H3N8 bird flu found in China. Here’s everything you need to know

China is in news again, this time for recording world’s first ever human case of the H3N8 bird flu strain.

Local health officials in Zhumadian (Henan province) confirmed that the victim is a four-year-old boy, who tested positive for the avian influenza strain on April 5. The officials said the boy was in contact with chickens and crows raised at his home. However, nobody close to the child was found infected with the strain, thus making the health officials believe the fear of spread from human to human could be minimal. In fact, early studies show the strain cannot be passed from human to human.

However, China’s National Health Commission is on guard as bird flu is known kill at least 50% of those it infects. The Commission has not provided any update on the boy’s health condition yet, but it is known that he has fever.

About bird flu

Bird flu, or avian flu, is an infectious type of influenza that spreads among bird species but can occasionally infect humans.

Like human influenza there are many strains of bird flu:

H5N1

H7N9

H5N6

H5N8

How does the H3N8 virus spread?

The virus usually spreads after touching infected birds or their droppings or when preparing infected poultry for cooking.

The H3N8 variant — one of several types of bird flu — is common in horses and dogs. This is the first case of human infection till date.

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The National Health Commission in China has urged people not to touch poultry birds with bare hands and approach the doctor immediately if they develop any typical flu symptoms.

Typical symptoms of bird flu

The symptoms of bird flu usually appear after three to five days of the infection. They may vary from the typical seasonal flu we are used to.

The most common signs are:

High fever accompanied by shivering

Muscle ache

Headache and cough

Conjunctivitis

Some may also experience sickness, diarrhoea, pain in stomach and chest and bleeding from the nose and gums.

Treatment

The treatment could be offered at home or in hospital. Patients are often put in isolation and antivirals are administered to reduce the severity of illness.

Other bird flu strains of concern

China houses several strains of bird flu mainly because it has a huge population of farmed and wild birds, thus encouraging avian viruses to mingle and mutate.

Only four strains — H5N1, H7N9, H5N6 and H5N8 — have been found to be of concern for human health with a fatality rate as high as 50 per cent.

The H5N1 and H7N9 strains of bird flu, detected in 1997 and 2013, respectively, have been responsible for most cases of human illness from avian influenza.

Overall, human to human transmission is rare. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported less than 500 bird flu deaths in humans in the last two and a half decades.

Experts say…

Influenza expert at the UK’s Royal Veterinary College Nicola Lewis said a genome analysis of the boy from China confirmed it is a reassortant, which means it contains a blend of genes from viruses which have been detected previously in poultry and wild birds.

Professor Ian Jones, a virologist at the University of Reading, said: “Transfer of avian flu to people is rare as it requires direct contact between an infected, usually dead, bird and the individual concerned.”

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Professor Jones said the highest risk is for the handlers who are charged with the disposal of carcasses after an outbreak.

Should you stop eating chicken or eggs?

While health experts are on high alert after first animal to human spread of H3N8 bird flu strain, they say there is no risk to chicken meat or eggs and no need for people to panic.