A 56-year-old woman from the Chinese province of Guandong has died of bird flu type H3N8. It is the first death of a person from the consequences of the disease. The World Health Organization WHO reports this on Tuesday.
The H3N8 virus, which has been circulating since 2002, was previously thought to be able to jump to horses, dogs and fur seals. The virus was first diagnosed in humans in 2022, in two people in China.
A first death has now also been established. The woman fell ill on February 22 and was hospitalized with severe pneumonia on March 3. She died there on March 16.
The woman did have several underlying conditions. She also often came into contact with poultry and there were many wild animals in the vicinity of her home.
The woman may have become infected during a visit to an animal market, but “the exact source of infection is yet to be determined, as is the link between the virus and other bird flus that are circulating in animals.”
The World Health Organization also underlines that current data show that the virus is not easily transmitted from person to person. As a result, “the risk of the disease spreading nationally, regionally or globally is considered weak”.
LOOK. Stay away from dead or sick birds
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and don’t miss a thing of the stars.