First death from H3N8 confirmed in China: All you need to know about this deadly virus

NEW DELHI,APR 12 : A woman suffering from an avian influenza A (H3N8) virus died in China on March 27, as per World Health Organisation. This was the third case of human infection reported with an avian influenza A virus. All three cases were reported from China.

Based on the available information, this virus does not have the ability to spread easily from person to person. The risk involved in the spread of the H3N8 virus among humans at national, regional and international levels is considered to be low.

The 56-year-old woman was hospitalised for severe pneumonia and subsequently died last month. The case was detected through the severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) surveillance system. WHO, in a statement, said that the patient had multiple underlying conditions and had a history of exposure to live poultry before the onset of the disease.

WHAT IS THE H3N8 VIRUS? H3N8 has been circulating since 2002 after it first emerged in North American waterfowl. It is known to infect horses, dogs and seals.

The H3N8 virus is a type of influenza A group of viruses that is commonly detected globally in animals. Influenza A viruses – H3N8 – are commonly found subtypes in birds, causing little to no sign of disease in either poultry or wild birds.

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The transmission of avian influenza viruses from birds to humans is usually sporadic and happens in a specific context: most cases that have been reported previously were due to exposure to infected poultry or contaminated environments.

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As far as symptoms are concerned, zoonotic influenza infections in humans may be asymptomatic or may cause disease. Depending on factors related to the specific virus and the infected host, the disease can range from conjunctivitis, mild flu-like symptoms to severe acute respiratory disease or even death. Gastrointestinal or neurological symptoms have also been reported but these are rare.

The infection is usually the result of direct or indirect exposure to infected live or dead poultry or contaminated environments.

To better understand the current risk to public health, more information is needed from both human and animal investigations, WHO stated.

Is there a vaccine for H3N8 virus?

While there is a vaccine against influenza viruses, there isn’t one available or reported for the H3N8 influenza A virus.

The health body recommended practising good hygiene by frequently washing hands or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer and wearing respiratory protection when in a risky environment (such as live animal markets/farms, live poultry, or surfaces that may be contaminated by poultry or bird faeces).

Travellers to countries with known outbreaks of animal influenza should avoid farms, contact with animals in live animal markets, entering areas where animals may be slaughtered, or contact with any surfaces that appear to be contaminated with animal faeces or other body fluids.

Travellers should also wash their hands often with soap and water and follow good food hygiene practices.

-The India Today