WHO Reports First Documented Human Case of Avian Influenza A

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported the first documented case of avian influenza A (H10N8) in a human patient from Jiangxi Province, China. Reiterating that no evidence yet indicates human-to-human transmission, WHO noted that the 73-year-old patient visited “a live bird market four days before date of onset” and eventually died from the disease. “Although China has previously detected H10N8 in wild and domestic birds, this is the first ever report of H10N8 isolated from a patient,” states the organization’s December 2013 fact sheet. “Given the potentially unpredictable behavior of influenza viruses, vigilance and close monitoring is needed… The Chinese government is actively investigating this event and has heightened disease surveillance for early detection, prevention and control measures.” See NBC News, December 18, 2013.

Issue 508