March 15, 2021

Russia warns of mutating H5N8 bird flu human-to-human transmission

Anna Popova, head of Rospotrebnadzor, Russia's health watchdog, said the mutating H5N8 bird flu has a high risk of human-to-human transmission, The Moscow Times reported.

The warning comes a month after the first case of H5N8 human transmission was confirmed at a poultry farm south of Russia.

Popova said human-to-human H5N8 bird flu transmission projections show a high degree of probability, adding that colleagues said mutation is continuing very actively.

There have been no reports of H5N8 bird flu spreading to humans, but humans can get infected with other bird and swine flu subtypes.

Popova said Rospotrebnadzor and the Vektor state research laboratory in Siberia are developing a test kit and vaccine for the virus, while also monitoring the situation in preparation for a possible outbreak.

- The Moscow Times