Russia has registered the first case of a strain of bird flu virus being passed to humans from birds. They had reported the matter to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Outbreaks of the H5N8 strain have been reported in Russia, Europe, China, the Middle East, and North Africa in recent months but only in poultry. Other strains – H5N1, H7N9, and H9N2 – have been known here) to spread to humans.
Russia reported the first case of human infection to the WHO “several days ago”, Popova said. There was no sign of transmission between humans so far, she added.
The majority of human bird flu infections have been associated with direct contact with infected live or dead poultry. However, properly cooked food is considered to be safe.
Bird flu outbreaks often prompt poultry plants to kill their birds to prevent the virus from spreading and avoid importing countries having to impose trade restrictions.
The vast majority of cases are spread by migrating wild birds. Therefore, producing countries tend to keep their poultry indoors or protected from contact with wildlife.
Seven workers at a poultry plant in South Russia had been infected with the H5N8 strain; when there was an outbreak at the plant in December, Popova said, adding that the individuals involved felt fine now.
“This situation did not develop further,” she added.
Siberia’s Vector Institute said on Saturday it would start developing human tests and a vaccine against H5N8.