Tag Archives: H10N8

New Bird Flu Strain Has Pandemic Possibilities

Chinese scientists have taken the very rare step of making a public announcement concerning a new strain of bird flu.

The Chinese government usually tries to keep news about a new bird flu strain from being released into the public until it is a major health issue.  However, a new strain of the virus called H10N8 apparently has shaken health officials to the level they are acting quickly to warn the public.

A 73-year-old woman from Nanchang City in southeast China died after being the first person found with the virus and a second person is confirmed to be infected with the virus.  The scientists say the quick transmission makes it a more likely possibility the virus, which they believe transferred from wild birds to chickens, has mutated into a form that can be easily transmitted from birds to humans.

The report of the woman’s death published in the Lancet medical journal said “the pandemic potential of this novel virus should not be underestimated.”

Dr. John McCauley of the World Health Organization said that H10N8 does not cause serious disease in poultry and thus it is difficult to detect.  While they don’t believe the virus would transmit well between humans, Dr. McCauley admitted there was not enough information to make a definitive claim.

New Bird Flu Strain Kills Chinese Woman

A strain of bird flu that was discovered in 1965 has infected a human being for the first time.

A 73-year-old Chinese woman died earlier this month of respiratory failure and a post-mortem examination showed she had contracted H10N8 bird flu.  The H10N8 strain was discovered in birds in 1965 but had never been found in a human being.

Doctors said the woman was admitted with severe pneumonia, high blood pressure, neuromuscular problems and a heart attack.  They had not suspected bird flu at the time of her admission.

Family members in contact with the woman have not shown symptoms of the virus. Officials say the woman had contact with animals at a live bird market four days before she fell ill.

Chinese health officials and the World Health Organization say they will be increasing their surveillance of hospitals to look for more potential H10N8 victims.

This is the second new bird flu virus to infect humans in China in 2013.  H7N9, which has killed 45 of the 137 people it has infected, was discovered in March 2013.