China detects first human case of H3N8 bird flu

The National Health Commission of China announced that a 4-year-old boy was infected with the H3N8 strain of the bird fluthe first contagion of this type recorded among humans worldwide.

As reported by the Commission last night in a statement, the child was infected in the city of Zhumadian, in the central province of Henan.

He developed a fever and other flu-like symptoms on April 5 and was subsequently hospitalized.

On April 24, the commission confirmed that he had contracted the H3N8 strain after coming into contact with chickens he raised at home.

“This virus has been detected in horses, dogs and birds around the world, but never before has a case been recorded in a human. This is something exceptional and the risk of contagion is low,” the institution added.