China has reported the world’s first case of a human infection with the H10N3 bird flu variant. The country’s National Health Commission has stated that the risk of widespread transmission is extremely low. The 41-year-old man from Zhenjiang was admitted to hospital on April 28th with a fever and other symptoms. It took several days for doctors to diagnose the illness as the H10N3 bird flu variant. The National Health Commission has said that the risk of widespread transmission is “extremely low” because the H10N3 virus type is weakly pathogenic.
The H10N3 bird flu variant is rarely associated with severe illness or death in birds. In Germany, the H5N8 virus type is more common, which is usually fatal to birds but not dangerous to humans. The first transmission of the H5N8 virus type to humans was reported by Russian authorities in February 2021, but there were no complications in the seven infected individuals. In China, various subtypes of bird flu sporadically infect humans, with the most common infections occurring in people who work closely with poultry. The last major outbreak in China occurred during the winter of 2016/17, caused by the H7N9 virus type, which has infected 1,668 people worldwide since 2013, resulting in 616 deaths.
While the H10N3 bird flu variant is a cause for concern, the low risk of widespread transmission is reassuring. The Chinese authorities have taken swift action to contain the outbreak, and it is hoped that this will prevent further infections. It is important to remain vigilant and take precautions when working with poultry or visiting areas where bird flu is prevalent. The World Health Organization and other health agencies will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary.
