Bird Flu : First case of new strain of bird flu in humans found out in China

The first case of the H3N8 strain of bird flu has been confirmed in China. However, health officials say that the risk of spreading this infection among people is still low. The case of H3N8 was first reported in North America in 2002. After this, horses, dogs and seals were infected, but the effect of this infection was not seen in humans.

China's National Health Commission said a 4-year-old boy living in central Henan province underwent tests earlier this month after being admitted to hospital with fever and other symptoms in which he was found positive with this virus. The commission said in a statement that the boy's family had raised chickens at home and the family lived in an area populated by wild ducks.

Avian influenza mainly occurs in wild birds and poultry. Cases of its spread between humans are extremely rare. According to the US Centers for Disease Control, the H5N1 and H7N9 strains of bird flu, detected in 1997 and 2013, are responsible for most cases of human illness from avian influenza. In 2012, H3N8 killed more than 160 seals off the northeast coast of the United States. most of these Fatal pneumonia occurred in these animals.