The World Health Organization (WHO) said that a rare bird flu strain killed a Chinese woman but did not spread.
The WHO said late Tuesday that a 56-year-old lady from Guangdong was the third H3N8 avian influenza patient.
China has had all instances, with the first two reported last year.
The Guangdong Provincial Centre for Disease Control and Prevention disclosed the third infection late last month but did not mention the woman’s death.
The WHO reported various underlying diseases and live poultry exposure.
China’s massive poultry and wild bird populations spread avian flu viruses, causing occasional human illnesses.
The WHO found influenza A(H3) in samples from a wet market the lady visited before becoming unwell, suggesting this was the source of infection.
H3N8 is prevalent in birds but seldom causes illness. It also infects animals.
The WHO reported no more instances among the woman’s close contacts.
“Based on existing evidence, it appears that this virus does not have the potential to move quickly from person to person, and hence the danger of it spreading among people at the national, regional, and worldwide levels is deemed low,” the WHO stated.
Avian influenza viruses may mutate and trigger pandemics. Thus they must be monitored.
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