MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia recorded the first case of a strain of avian influenza virus called A (H5N8) transmitted from birds to humans and reported the matter to the World Health Organization (WHO), Anna Popova, head of consumer health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, said on Saturday.
Outbreaks of the H5N8 strain have been reported in Russia, Europe, China, the Middle East and North Africa in recent months, but so far only in birds. Other strains – H5N1, H7N9 and H9N2 – are known here) for spreading to humans.
Russia reported the case of human infection to WHO “several days ago, when we were absolutely sure of our results,” Popova told state television Rossiya 24. There was still no sign of human-to-human transmission, she added.
Seven poultry workers in southern Russia were infected with the H5N8 strain in an outbreak at the plant in December, Popova said, adding that the individuals involved were feeling good now. “This situation has not developed further,” she said.
In an e-mail, the European arm of WHO said it had been notified by Russia of a case of human infection with H5N8 and acknowledged that, if confirmed, it would be the first time that the strain would infect people.
“Preliminary information indicates that the reported cases were of workers exposed to flocks of birds,” said the email. “They were asymptomatic and no human-to-human transmission was reported.
“We are discussing with national authorities to gather more information and assess the impact of this event on public health,” added the email.
Most human avian influenza infections have been associated with direct contact with infected live or dead birds, although properly cooked food is considered safe.
Outbreaks of avian influenza often lead poultry to kill their birds to prevent the spread of the virus and to prevent importing countries from having to impose trade restrictions.
The vast majority of cases are spread by migratory wild birds, so producing countries tend to keep their birds indoors or protected from contact with wildlife.
The Vector Institute of Siberia said on Saturday it would start developing tests on humans and a vaccine against H5N8, the RIA news agency reported.
Reporting by Polina Devitt and Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber; Additional reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Edition by Mark Heinrich and David Holmes