China reports influenza co-infection in Zhejiang Province
Avian influenza A(H10N5) and influenza A(H3N2) detected in fatal case
The Chinese National Disease Control and Prevention Administration is reporting a human case co-infected with avian influenza A(H10N5) and influenza A(H3N2) in Zhejiang Province on the mainland.
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health in Hong Kong says the patient was a 63-year-old female, from Xuancheng, Anhui Province with underlying medical problems, who developed symptoms on November 30 last year and was admitted for treatment on December 2. She passed away on December 16.
Zhejiang Province isolated seasonal H3N2 subtype and avian H10N5 subtype influenza viruses from case specimens on January 22, 2024 during a retrospective study.
CIDRAP reports the woman's H10N5 infection appears to be the first known case in a human. Background information on influenza A virus subtypes from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said most H10 infections in people have involved exposure to infected poultry.
The National Administration of Disease Control and Prevention has guided Zhejiang and Anhui provinces to carry out prevention and control in accordance with relevant plans and organized experts to conduct risk assessments. Experts assessed that the complete genetic analysis of the virus showed that the H10N5 virus was of poultry origin and did not have the ability to effectively infect humans. The epidemic was an occasional cross-species transmission from poultry to humans. The risk of the virus infecting humans is low and no human-to-human transmission has occurred.
Experts suggest that the public should avoid contact with sick and dead poultry in daily life and try to avoid direct contact with live poultry; pay attention to dietary hygiene and improve self-protection awareness. If you have fever and respiratory symptoms, you should wear a mask and seek medical treatment as soon as possible.