Russia has detected the first case of transmission of the H5N8 strain of avian influenza to humans

Russian health authorities on Saturday confirmed the first case of transmission of the H5N8 strain of bird flu to humans and they assured that they had already informed the World Health Organization (WHO) of this “important discovery”.

“Information on the world’s first recorded case of transmission of avian influenza (H5N8) to humans has already been transmitted to the World Health Organization”Explain Anna popova, head of the Russian health agency, Rospotrebnadzor, adding that the seven infected people on a poultry farm “are doing well”.

“It doesn’t spread from person to person. But only time will tell how long it will take for future changes to overcome this obstacle “Popova said. The discovery of this strain now “gives us all, the whole world, the time to prepare for potential mutations and the ability to respond in a timely manner and develop test systems and vaccines“He added.

Affected workers at the poultry farm, where an outbreak among birds was reported last December, had mild cases and have recoveredsaid the Russian official.

Popova indicated that Scientists at the Russian Vektor laboratory have isolated genetic material from the strain of the seven infected workers.

According to the WHO website, “Although human infections with the A (H5) virus are rare and usually occur in people exposed to sick or dead infected birds (or their surroundings), they can cause serious illness or death in humans.”.

Six of 14 cases of human avian influenza H5N6 reported since 2014 have been fatal, the agency said in a post dated November 2016.

“Raising community awareness of potential dangers to human health is essential to prevent infection in humans”, WHO said. “Surveillance must continue to detect human cases and early changes in the transmissibility and infectivity of the virus,” he added.

In 2020, different variants of avian influenza were detected in different countries around the world, including Philippines, France, United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea and India.

In France, millions of animals have been euthanized to stop the spread of the virus.

(With information from AFP)

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