What Is H3N8 Flu? First Human Case Of The Influenza Detected In China's Henan

Amid the news of strict lockdowns in China owing to the coronavirus outbreak, reports have surfaced about the first known human case of the H3N8 strain of Avian Flu. Health authorities have reportedly suggested that the risk of widespread transmission among people is low.

The Chinese National Health Commission told on April 26 that a four-year-old boy living in central Henan province tested positive for the strain after the kid was hospitalised earlier in April with fever and other symptoms.

Reportedly, the boy was infected directly by birds and the strain, they found, did not have the ability to effectively infect humans. It warned the public to nevertheless stay away from dead or sick birds and seek immediate treatment for fever or respiratory symptoms.

What Is H3N8 Flu?

Avian Influenza or known informally as avian flu or bird flu is a variety of flu caused by viruses adapted to birds. Avian influenza's strains H5N1 and H7N9 were detected in 1997 and 2013 respectively and have been responsible for most cases of human illness from avian influenza, the US Centers for Disease Control stated.

The H3N8 subtype of the Avian influenza is endemic in birds, horses and dogs. Also known as the equine influenza virus, it has reportedly been around since it was first detected in 2002 in a waterfowl.

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The virus was detected amongst seals as well in 2011, reports stated. Reportedly, in 2012, H3N8 was blamed for the deaths of more than 160 seals off the north-eastern coast of the United States after it caused deadly pneumonia in the animals.

The case reported in China is the first case wherein the H3N8 or equine influenza was detected amongst humans. The World Health Organisation stated that the human infections of animal-borne influenzas are primarily acquired through direct contact with infected animals and contaminated environments.

A report on influenza resulting in the death of seals quoted Dr Anne Moscona of Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City saying, “There is a concern that we have a new mammalian-transmissible virus to which humans haven't yet been exposed. It's a combination we haven't seen in disease before.”

In a 2015 study published in the Journal of Virology, it was inferred that the H3N8 virus is highly adaptive as it is found in multiple avian and mammal hosts. It is capable of crossing the species barrier.