First case of H5N8 bird flu in humans - 9News

The first case of a bird flu strain, H5N8, being passed from poultry to humans has been reported in Russia.

Authorities said seven poultry workers in the south of the country had been infected following an outbreak there last December, the BBC reports.

"All seven people... are now feeling well," Anna Popova, the head of Russia's consumer health watchdog, said.

Russia says it has stopped the bird flu H5N8 spreading from a group of poultry workers who became infected. (Supplied/Domain)

Ms Popova said measures had been rapidly taken to stop the spread of infection.

There was no sign of transmission between humans, she said.

Russian officials had also reported the cases to the World Health Organisation.

Ms Popova said "the important scientific discovery" by Russia's Vektor laboratory had isolated the strain's genetic material from the infected workers.

"The discovery of these mutations when the virus has not still acquired an ability to transmit from human to human gives us all, the entire world, time to prepare for possible mutations and react in an adequate and timely fashion," she said.

A file photo of thousands of chickens after they were slaughtered following a bird flu outbreak in Hong Kong. (Associated Press)

Outbreaks of the H5N8 strain have been reported in Russia, Europe, China, the Middle East and North Africa in recent months but only in poultry.

Other strains have spread from birds to humans.

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2021-02-21 05:23:59Z
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