China’s latest bird flu epidemic has finally got the attention of the World Health Organisation after China reported a patient who had died from a new strain of bird flu H10N8 – the first ever reported human case of the virus.
The 73-year-old woman died shortly after six days of contracting the disease. Though the strain of virus has been around in birds since 1965 it has never been detected in humans. Authorities also claim no evidence of human-to-human transmission with the H10N8 virus.
China is currently tackling an H7N9 strain of bird flu that has infected at least 139 people and killed 45 of them. The H7N9 virus is believed to be able to jump between people and potentially cause a human pandemic.
Guangdong has just confirmed another bird flu infection since one infection was reported last week, bringing the total number of H7N9 cases to five.
Health Minister Ko Wing-man warns residents to avoid wet markets in the mainland.
