The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in China announced today, Tuesday, detecting an epicenter of avian flu (H5N6) in a park in Liao Ning province in the northeastern part of the country.
The ministry issued a statement says that experts found eleven wild birds contracted the disease in a park of a pleasance at Shing Yang, the local capital of Liao Ning province.
The park houses 291 wild birds.
The local authorities took emergency measurements and killed 280 birds and sterilized the surroundings of the park.
On the other hand, Hong Kong health officials are monitoring a human case of avian influenza (H5N6) in Guangxi in southern China.
The case involved a 50-year-old man living in Hechi in Guangxi. He developed symptoms on February 16 and was admitted for treatment on February 17 due to severe pneumonia. The patient passed away on March 2.
From 2014 to date, 30 human cases of avian influenza A (H5N6) have been reported by China mainland health authorities.
Avian influenza is caused by those influenza viruses that mainly affect birds and poultry, such as chickens or ducks.
Clinical presentation of avian influenza in humans includes eye infection (conjunctivitis), flu-like symptoms (e.g. fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches), or severe respiratory illness (e.g. chest infection). The incubation period ranges from 7 to 10 days, according to the Outbreak News.
The more virulent forms can result in respiratory failure, multi-organ failure, and even death. People mainly become infected with the avian influenza virus through contact with infected birds and poultry (live or dead) or their droppings, or contact with contaminated environments (such as wet markets and live poultry markets). Human-to-human transmission is inefficient.
People in close contact with poultry are more susceptible to contracting avian influenza. The elderly, children, and people with chronic illness have a higher risk of developing complications such as bronchitis and chest infection.
Follow the latest news on Google News
