New strain of bird flu feared after killing in China

The H10N8 virus is thought to be the reason behind the death of one woman in China who visited a live poultry market.

07:47 06 February 2014

Experts in China are now concerned about the spread of new strain of bird flu which is thought to have killed a 73-year-old woman who visited a live poultry market. 

 

There are also confirmed reports that another person has become infected in China’s Jiangxi province. Scientists said that the virus’ potential shouldn’t be underestimated as it has the potential to become pandemic. 

 

Dr Mingbin Liu from Nanchang City Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said: "A second case of H10N8 was identified in Jiangxi province, China, on 26 January 2014. This is of great concern because it reveals that the H10N8 virus has continued to circulate and may cause more human infections in future."

 

Dr John McCauley, director of the WHO (World Health Organization) Collaborating Centre for Influenza, MRC (Medical Research Council) National Institute for Medical Research, said: "The potential epidemiological significance of this zoonotic infection is not clear. Avian influenza viruses of the sub-type H10N8 are probably not particularly unusual. Whether there were complications in this case is unclear.

 

"This case reminds us to be aware of human infections from animal influenza viruses, like the H7N9 cases in China which increase daily. Previously we did not think that H7N9 infections might be so lethal. Now we also must consider H10N8 infections as well."