First Human case of H10N3 bird flu was reported in eastern province of Jiangsu in China.
Highlights
A 41-year-old man has become first human case of infection with H10N3 strain of bird flu. He was diagnosed of H10N3 avian influenza virus on May 28. It is still not confirmed how he was infected with virus.
What is H10N3 bird flu?
H10N3 is a low pathogenic or less severe strain of virus in poultry. The risk of it transmitting on a large scale is also very low. In about 40 years, only 160 isolates of this virus were reported, in wild birds or waterfowl across Asia and North America. It has not been detected in chickens.
What is Influenza?
It is commonly called as “the flu”. This infectious disease is caused by influenza viruses. Its symptoms include mild to severe fever, runny nose, sore throat, headache, coughing, muscle pain and fatigue. Symptoms usually starts 1–4 days after exposure to virus and lasts for 2–8 days. It may also cause pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, encephalitis, meningitis, and worsening of pre-existing health problems like asthma.
Avian influenza or Avian flu or Bird flu
It caused by viruses adapted to birds. It is similar to swine flu, horse flu, dog flu and human flu. Among three types of influenza viruses namely, A, B, and C; influenza A virus is zoonotic infection which entirely affects birds.