Russia has registered the first case of bird flu virus as A (H5N8) for humans from birds and has reported the case to the World Health Organization (WHO), said Anna Popova, head of the watchdog health watchdog. Rospotrebnadzor, on Saturday.
H5N8-type outbreaks have been reported in Russia, Europe, China, the Middle East and North Africa in recent months but so far only in chickens. Other strains – H5N1, H7N9 and H9N2 – have been identified here) for human transmission.
Russia reported the human infection case to the WHO “several days ago, just as we became absolutely certain of our results,” Popova told Rossiya 24 state TV. There was still no word of spread between people, she said.
Seven workers at a poultry plant in southern Russia were infected with the H5N8 virus in a revolution at the plant in December, Popova said, adding that the people involved feeling right now. “This situation has not improved,” she said.
The WHO European arm said in an e-mail that Russia had been notified of the issue of human infection with H5N8 and acknowledged that this would be the case if it was first diagnosed. take.
“Initial information indicates that the issues reported were workers exposed to bird herds,” the email said. “They were asymptomatic and no human transmission was reported.
“We are in contact with national authorities to gather more information and assess the health impact of this incident,” the email said.
Most avian flu infections have been linked to direct contact with live or dead chickens, although properly cooked food is considered safe.
Bird flu outbreaks often encourage poultry plants to kill their birds to prevent the virus from spreading, and to prevent invasive countries from invading. hindering trade.
Most cases are spread by migration of wild birds, so producing countries tend to keep their hens indoors or protected from contact with wildlife.
The Vector Institute of Siberia said on Saturday that it would begin developing human tests and vaccines against H5N8, the RIA news agency said.