The World Health Organization said Tuesday that at least one person has died in China from confirmed H3N8 avian flu.
China notified the World Health Organization of a confirmed case of H3N8 avian influenza virus in late March, the third to be reported in the nation. The patient, a 56-year-old woman from Guangdong province, first presented with the illness in late February. She was hospitalized March 3 and died March 16.
The patient had several underlying conditions and a history of exposure to live poultry, including spending time at a wet market where collected samples tested positive for the virus, WHO noted in its report. At this time, WHO does not believe that the virus has the capabilities to spread with ease from person to person.
“However, due to the constantly evolving nature of influenza viruses, WHO stresses the importance of global surveillance to detect virological, epidemiological and clinical changes associated with circulating influenza viruses which may affect human (or animal) health,” WHO noted in its report.
REPORT: Strange New Virus With High Fatality Rate In China Has Infected 35 Peoplehttps://t.co/8wd3uVLQPg
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Members of the Chinese Communist Party are using enhanced monitoring and disinfection tactics within the patient’s residences and other suspected areas of exposure, according to the WHO. Public awareness efforts are also taking place. (RELATED: ‘Zombie Virus’ Warning Issued By Scientists As Russian Ice Thaws)
It’s believed that H3N8 is not related to the H5N1 bird flu pandemic. H1N5 has destroyed huge swaths of poultry and wild bird populations globally and spread to a number of mammals, including domestic cats, foxes and bears.