H3N8 Virus: Many countries of the world including India are still battling the corona pandemic. Meanwhile, another virus originating from China has created a stir in the world. Let us tell you that bird flu virus named H3N8 has been found in China. According to the information received so far, one person has died due to H3N8 virus. According to Chinese media reports, a 56-year-old woman was infected with H3N8 bird flu in Zhongshan city of southern China. Who died recently.
According to a report by Down to Earth, this woman fell ill on 22 February 2023. He was then admitted to the hospital on 3 March with severe pneumonia. Finally, on March 16 i.e. in 22 days, that woman died. China informed the World Health Organization (WHO) 11 days after the death. While as per rules any such flu or infection is found in any country then the information should be shared with WHO within 24 hours.
What does WHO have to say?
On April 11, the WHO has taken its stand that the exact source of the infection is not clear. This global organization has also clarified that H3N8 virus is found in animals. But there is no concrete information about how it came in that woman. Although it is being claimed that efforts were made to confirm the virus on the people who came in contact with the woman, but no concrete results came. As of now, according to the information so far, the H3N8 virus does not spread easily in humans. Nevertheless, the World Health Organization has issued some guidelines and appealed people to be cautious.
WHO says that H3N8 is a type of bird flu. Which is very rare in humans. The disease was first detected in North American birds in the 1960s. After this, in 2022, this virus was also found in dogs and horses. However, only in some cases, the spread of this virus in humans has been known.
World Health Organization alert after woman’s death
Giving information about the incident, the World Health Organization has said that a 56-year-old woman from Guangdong province of China was found ill on 22 February 2022. It was learned that he had several health problems including myeloma (cancer). The woman was also in contact with a poultry farm for a long time. When the history of the case was ascertained, it was found that apart from the poultry farm, there was also a nest of birds around the woman’s house.
3 cases of H3N8 reported so far
According to the United States public health agency Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), two cases related to this virus were reported in April and May 2022. It is believed that those people were infected by coming in contact with chickens and ducks. Although from where this virus has spread, the exact information has not yet been revealed in this matter. Both the patients also recovered after treatment.
What is H3N8 virus
The H3N8 virus is a type of influenza virus. Which is primarily found in animals and birds. This virus is also found in abundance in horses. They usually show signs of infection in the lungs and respiratory organs. H3N8 viruses can also cause infection in humans, but this is very rare. Significantly, the possibility of spreading it from one person to another is negligible.
Most of the symptoms in an animal infected with H3N8 virus are associated with a respiratory infection. These include weakness, fatigue, fever, dry cough, respiratory distress or respiration with distress, lung discomfort, nasal and eye discharge, rapid breathing, and a worsening of the general condition of the animal affected by the infection.
Protection against H3N8 virus
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H3N8 virus is usually seen only in animals and birds. The woman who died of this virus was in constant contact with pets for a long time. Therefore, it is most important to keep your pets vaccinated from time to time. Apart from this, special attention should also be paid to the cleanliness and hygiene of animals and birds. Make arrangements to keep the afflicted animals separately.