Sign In
Learn bits
Health & Medicine, Science & Tech.
Mahesh

28/04/22 08:10 AM IST

H3N8 bird flu

In News 
  • China has recorded its first human infection with the H3N8 strain of bird flu, but the risk of its spread among people is low.
  • This is the first case of human infection with the H3N8 strain of avian flu.
Avian Influenza 
  • The H3N8 variant is common in horses and dogs and has even been found in seals.
  • H3N8 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus. It is known to infect birds, horses and dogs.
  • H3N8 is also known as equine influenza virus as it is the main cause of equine influenza – a highly-contagious respiratory disease that affects horses, donkeys, zebras and mules.
  • This strain does not have "the ability to effectively infect humans,” China’s National Health Commission said. The boy infected with H3N8 had been living in close proximity to chickens and wild ducks and was directly infected by the birds.
  • Many different strains of bird flu are present in China and occasionally infect humans. Cases are more frequent among people working in close contact with poultry.
  • According to a 2015 study published in the Journal of Virology, H3N8 virus is highly adaptive as it is found in multiple avian and mammal hosts. It is capable of crossing the species barrier.
  • In 2012, H3N8 was blamed for the deaths of more than 160 seals off the northeastern coast of the United States after it caused deadly pneumonia in the animals.
Source-Indian Express 

More Related Current Affairs View All

08 Sep

Rajasthan’s coaching centre Bill

'The Rajasthan Coaching Centres (Control and Regulation) Bill, 2025, is a significant piece of legislation passed by the Rajasthan Assembly to regulate and oversee the state's burg

Read More

28 Aug

IADT-1

'Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully carried out its first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-1), a crucial milestone in the preparation for the countr

Read More

28 Aug

H-1B visa changes

'H-1B visa changes 2025: United States Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called the popular H-1B visa program a “scam”, saying that American businesses should be focuse

Read More

India’s First Ai-Driven Magazine Generator

Generate Your Custom Current Affairs Magazine using our AI in just 3 steps