Written By: Satata Karmakar | Updated : February 21, 2021 12:21 PM IST
Russia reports world's 1st case of human infection with bird flu
Russia has confirmed the first case of human infection with the avian influenza A(H5N8) virus or bird flu in the world, a Russian sanitary official announced on Saturday.
Scientists have isolated the genetic material of this bird flu virus in seven workers of a poultry farm in south Russia, where an outbreak among fowls was reported in December, said Anna Popova, head of the country's consumer rights and human well-being watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, the Xinhua news agency reported.
All the necessary measures were taken immediately to protect humans and animals, and the infection did not spread further, she told a briefing.
All of the seven people who were infected are now feeling well, with only mild clinical symptoms, Popova said.
According to the reports, few other variants of bird flu have previously infected humans and have led to deaths - but this is the first report of the H5N8 strain being passed on.
People can get infected with avian and swine influenza viruses, such as bird flu subtypes A(H5N1) and A(H7N9) and swine flu subtypes such as A(H1N1).
According to the WHO, people usually get infected through direct contact with animals or contaminated environments, and there is no sustained transmission among humans.
H5N1 in people can cause severe disease and has a 60 percent mortality rate.
