South Africa: NICD Statement Dispels Media Bird Flu Report

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Unlike its cousins H5N1 and H5N6, HPAI H5N8 - despite thousands of poultry worker exposures on three continents - has never been shown to infect humans. That could change as the virus evolves (see Study: Virulence Of HPAI H5N8 Enhanced By 2 Amino Acid Substitutions), but so far, H5N8 has only posed a threat to avian species. 

Which is why, when reports of a human infection (see Pretoria child diagnosed with bird flu) began to appear in the South African Press today, I immediately checked their National Institutes of Communicable Diseases (NICD) for an official response.

Given the hyperbolic nature of the media report, it wasn't too surprising to find the following statement had already been posted refuting the story. 

Avian Influenza: No Confirmed Human Cases in South Africa

Alerts August 30, 2017

The outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N8) in poultry is ongoing after its emergence in South Africa in June 2017. According to the OIE website, 24 localized outbreaks have been identified to date from three provinces (Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Western Cape) as follows: 10 outbreaks in commercial chickens, 3 outbreaks in commercial ostrich, 5 outbreaks in wild birds, 3 outbreaks in birds that were kept as a hobby and 3 outbreaks in backyard poultry. The OIE reports may be found at http://www.oie.int.

Similar to experience in other countries that have had the avian influenza A(H5N8) outbreak in the past, there have been no human cases of A(H5N8) in South Africa. Following the first reported avian influenza A(H5N8) outbreaks in poultry in South Africa, human surveillance to detect possible human infections was initiated by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) in persons exposed to the virus on affected farms. 

To date, 60 workers who had been exposed to infected birds have been tested and none have tested positive. Poultry and poultry products that are available for sale in retail outlets are safe for human consumption. There have been media reports that a learner from Centurion has been diagnosed with bird flu, NICD can confirm that there have been no confirmed human cases of bird flu in South Africa.

Poultry and poultry products that are available for sale in retail outlets are safe for human consumption. There is no danger of transmission of avian influenza from chicken or egg products to humans.

Additional information can be accessed at www.nicd.ac.za