Russia: bird flu spreads to humans | Currently Europe | DW

According to authorities, the bird flu virus H5N8 was transmitted to humans for the first time in Russia.  The  World Health Organization (WHO) has already been informed about this “important discovery”, said the head of the Russian health protection authority, Anna Popova. Scientists from the so-called vector laboratory had detected the virus in seven people in a poultry factory where bird flu had occurred in animals in December.

 The  workers are fine

 The  seven workers from the poultry factory in southern Russia now felt “good” again, said Popova on Russian television.

 The  disease ran without complications in all infected people. Popova praised “the important scientific discovery”. Time will tell whether the virus will continue to mutate. Since the virus is apparently not yet being transmitted from person to person, this gives “the whole world time to prepare for possible mutations and to react appropriately and in good time”.

Confirmation from WHO

 The  WHO confirmed that it had been informed of the case by Russia and is seeking further information. If the information is confirmed, it would be the first transmission of the bird flu virus H5N8 to humans, said a WHO spokesman. However, the organization pointed out that the infected workers did not have any symptoms of the disease and there are no signs of human-to-human transmission either.

Avian flu, also known as avian influenza, occurs both in wild birds and again and again in poultry farms. It has also been proven time and again in Germany in the past.

ml / as (afp, dpa)