A case of human infection with a strain of the H10N3 avian influenza virus was detected in the Chinese province of Jiangsu, the State Health Committee of China said in a statement.
The patient was a 41-year-old man living in the province of Jiangsu. On April 23, he had a fever and began to show other symptoms, on April 28, due to the deterioration of the patient’s condition, he was hospitalized in a local hospital. On May 28, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a full-genome sequencing of samples taken from a patient from Jiangsu, the result was positive for the H10N3 virus.
The report says that a full genome analysis of the virus showed that it is of avian origin and it does not have the ability to “effectively” infect humans.
The persons who were in close contact with the patient were placed under medical supervision, and no abnormalities were detected. Currently, the patient’s condition is assessed as stable, and in general, he can be discharged from the hospital. It is noted that cases of H10N3 infection from person to person in the world have not been previously recorded, and among birds, this virus is considered low-pathogenic. According to experts, this is “accidental transmission of the virus from birds to humans,” and “the risk of large-scale spread is extremely low.” Experts recommended avoiding contact with birds that have died from the disease, as well as avoiding contact with live birds, paying attention to food hygiene, and taking protective measures.
