Ducks are a source of bird flu.

It has been provided by the World Health Organization February 13, 2024 Details of the case recently reported in China A woman died after being infected with the H3N2 seasonal influenza virus and the H10N5 avian influenza virus. This is the first known human illness associated with the H10N5 virus (see January 31 news).

The woman, who was about sixty years old, worked as a farmer in Anhui Province They had underlying health conditions. Her respiratory symptoms began on November 30, 2023, and she was admitted to hospital on December 2. After her condition worsened, she was transferred to an institution Zhejiang Province On December 7, she died on December 16. On January 22, authorities in Zhejiang Province isolated the H3N2 and H10N5 viruses from respiratory samples, which the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed on January 26.
Samples of duck meat revealed the presence of the H10N5 virus.

Investigators discovered that the woman had not been vaccinated against seasonal influenza. A few days before her symptoms appeared, she was exposed to live poultry while purchasing ducks. Laboratory tests conducted on duck meat from the woman's refrigerator revealed the presence of the H10N5 virus in seven samples. The woman had no contact with pigs or other mammals. Environmental samples taken from his home were negative.

Tracing the woman’s contacts in the two governorates revealed no related cases. The agricultural authorities conducted an investigation to trace the ducks, culled the birds and cleared the affected areas.

More research is needed to evaluate the presence of the H10N5 virus in animals

According to the World Health Organization, H10 strains are sometimes detected in wild birds, poultry and mammals in various parts of the world. They are low-infectious viruses that do not need to be reported, so their prevalence is unknown. H10N5 virus was isolated from pigs in Hubei Province, China.

The World Health Organization said more research is needed to evaluate the epidemiology of the H10N5 virus in animals, adding that avian H10 viruses have not, so far, acquired the ability to spread from person to person.

Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy