Russia has detected its first case of transmission of bird flu virus from animals to humans, according to health authorities.
Scientists from the state-run Vector Institute have isolated genetic material of the H5N8 virus from seven workers at a poultry farm in southern Russia, according to Anna Popova, head of Russia’s healthare regulator Rospotrebnadzor.
In televised remarks, she called the early diagnosis of the virus a ”victory” for Russian scientists and the country’s surveillance system for infectious diseases.
The head of the Vector Institute, Rinat Maksyutov, emphasised that there had been no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the bird flu virus – only animals to humans.
According to the World Health Organization, not all bird flu viruses cause disease in humans.
However, the new bird flu virus has a high mortality rate among the animals and doesn’t cause any symptoms, Maksyutov said.
He added that the Vector Institute will start working on a test system and vaccine against this new virus.
H5N8 virus cases have been reported recently elsewhere in Europe, including Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Hungary.
Follow us on:
France Prime Minister Michel Barnier's new government seeks cross-party support in a hung parliament after…
Israeli soldiers have raided Al Jazeera’s Ramallah offices, ordering a 45-day closure amid escalating tensions…
Israel and Hezbollah engaged in heavy airstrike exchanges, with Israeli airstrikes targeting Lebanon and Hezbollah…
Operation Safe Haven has arrested two suspects in Plateau, recovering firearms amid intensified efforts against…
Zamfara’s APC has accused Governor Lawal of undermining federal efforts to combat banditry, calling for…
Nigeria and China have stressed the role of cultural initiatives in fostering peace and unity…