Russia warns of human-to-human transmission of bird flu strain

A mutating strain of bird flu that has emerged in Russia has “a fairly high degree of likelihood” of human-to-human transmission, the country’s health surveillance chief warned in a report.

Anna Popova, who runs Rospotrebnadzor, made the ominous prediction almost a month after scientists detected the first case of H5N8 transmission to humans at a poultry farm in southern Russia, the Moscow Times reported.

Humans can be infected with other subtypes of avian and swine flu, but the H5N8 strain – which is fatal to birds – has never before been reported to spread among humans.

“This is likely to happen. Colleagues say the mutation is continuing very actively, ”Popova said, adding that Rospotrebnadzor and the Siberian-based Vektor State Research Laboratory have time to develop a test kit and vaccine, and then to“ monitor the situation “.

“If we don’t need it, it will be a chance. But if necessary, we will be ready, ”Russia’s chief medical officer told Russian news agency TASS.

“In other words, we will be able to warn the entire global community of the threat.”

Last month, Popova reported the first case of the H5N8 strain transmitted to humans from birds to the World Health Organization, according to Reuters.

Besides Russia and Europe, outbreaks of H5N8 have been reported in recent months in China, the Middle East and North Africa – but so far only in poultry.

Other strains of avian influenza, such as H5N1, H7N9 and H9N2, are known to spread to humans.

Seven workers at a Russian poultry factory were infected with the H5N8 mutation during an outbreak at the factory in December, Popova said, adding that everyone had recovered quickly.

“This situation has not developed further,” she said at the end of February.