“H10N3 strain of Bird Flu” – China reports first human case

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A man in China’s eastern province has been confirmed as the first human case of infection with the H10N3 strain of bird flu.

About H10N3 strain of Bird Flu:

• H10N3 strain of bird flu is a subtype of the Influenza A virus which is commonly known as the bird flu virus.
• The virus is normally fatal to wild birds and poultry because among animals it can be spread through respiratory droplets.
• Risk: H10N3 is a low pathogenic or relatively less severe strain of the avian flu in poultry. Its risk of spreading on a large scale is very low.
• Human-Human Transmission: There was no indication or cases of human-to-human transmission of the H10N3 virus.
• Is it a Common Virus? H10N3 is not a very common virus and only around 160 isolates of the virus were reported in the 40 years to 2018.
  • However, still, flu viruses can mutate rapidly and mix with other strains circulating on farms or among migratory birds. This is known as reassortment. This reassortment can make genetic changes that pose a transmission threat to humans.

Source: The Hindu