Jiangxi Province – Credit Wikipedia
# 8219
Our winter of oddball or unusual avian influenza virus infections (and outbreaks) continues today with word from Jiangxi Province, China that – for the second time in just 5 weeks – they’ve detected a human infection with the H10N8 virus. While I was away from my desk this morning, Crof published a report via the China Times (see China: A second case of H10N8 reported).
Last December, as you may recall, we saw the HK CHP Notified Of Fatal H10N8 Infection In Jiangxi, which was the first time that virus had been isolated in a human host.
Two weeks later we saw the report Hong Kong: Isolation & Treatment Of An H9N2 Patient, which while considerably more common than H10N8, is still rarely seen in humans. Add to that the upstart outbreak of a highly pathogenic H5N8 avian virus in Korean ducks last week, and the alphabet soup of unusual virus designations continues to simmer.
First the announcement from the Jiangxi Provincial Ministry of Health, then I’ll return with a bit more.
Jiangxi confirmed cases of avian influenza H10N8 found one case of human infection
Jiangxi Provincial Health and Family Planning Commission www.jxwst.gov.cn 2014 年 1 月 25, 2008 Source: Office of Emergency Management Office
Recently, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province monitoring found one case of severe pneumonia, January 25, 2014, by the National Family Planning Health Organization expert consultation, diagnosis H10N8 avian flu case confirmed cases of the human infection.
Patients Zhang, female, 55 years old, who lives in Nanchang Hi-tech Development Zone. The patient appeared in the January 8, sore throat, dizziness, fatigue and other symptoms, January 15 hospitalized patients currently in critical condition. The epidemiological investigation, the patient had a history of exposure bazaars. All close contacts through medical observation does not appear abnormal.
Expert Tip: prevention of respiratory diseases in winter and spring, pay attention to the ground ventilation to reduce stay in crowded, poor air circulation spaces; wash their hands and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth; direct contact with live poultry, birds or After the stool, must wash their hands; buy fresh, live, pay attention to prove that view when frozen poultry quarantine. If fever and respiratory symptoms should wear a mask, a doctor as soon as possible.
Since testing for non-seasonal influenza viruses is rarely done, we honestly don’t know how often these rare influenza strains actually infect humans. But it is probably more common than surveillance numbers suggest.
With the ongoing H7N9 virus threat in China, the screening of severe pneumonia cases for non-seasonal influenza A viruses is in overdrive, and so cases like today’s – that might well have slipped by unnoticed in the past – are coming to our attention.
As to whether H10N8 is a transient blip on the surveillance radar, or an emerging human health threat, we’ll have to wait for more data.
The upside to the the enhanced surveillance for novel flu viruses in China, and around the world is - that the better the surveillance - the sooner we’ll know when a new threat does appear.
