A 56-year-old woman was the world’s first victim of the disease
A 56-year-old Chinese woman has become the first person in the world to die from a type of bird flu that is rare in humans, according to information from the World Health Organization (WHO). According to the agency, the strain of the disease does not appear to be spreading among people.
The case took place in Guangdong province in southern China. The woman was the third person infected with the H3N8 subtype of bird flu, WHO said in a statement on Tuesday evening, 11. All the cases have occurred in China, with the first two reported last year.
The Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported the third infection in late March 2023, but did not provide details of the woman’s death. The patient had multiple health conditions and a history of exposure to live birds, according to the report.
Sporadic infections in people with bird flu are common in China, where the virus circulates steadily in large populations of domestic and wild birds.
Samples collected from a fresh food market the woman visited before she fell ill tested positive for influenza A(H3), WHO said, suggesting that this may have been the source of the infection.
Though rare in people, H3N8 is common in birds, where it causes few or no signs of disease. The virus has also infected other mammals.
*With information from Reuters.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
