A mutating type of bird flu that originated in Russia has a reasonable likelihood of transmission from human to human, ‘the head of the country’s health watchdog warned in a report.
Anna Popova, who heads Rospotrebnadzor, made the worrying prediction almost a month after scientists detected the first case of H5N8 transmission to humans on a poultry farm in southern Russia, the Moscow Times reported.
Humans can become infected with other types of bird and swine flu, but the H5N8 strain – which is deadly to birds – has never been spread among humans before.
‘It’s likely to happen. Colleagues say that the mutation is continuing very actively, “Popova said, adding that Rospotrebnadzor and the Siberia-based research laboratory Vector have time to develop a test kit and a vaccine and then ‘monitor the situation’.
“If we do not need it, it will be a happy respite. But if necessary, we will be ready, ”the Russian chief agent told Russian news agency TASS.
“In other words, we will be able to warn the entire world community about the threat.”
Last month, according to Reuters, Popova reported on the first case of the H5N8 strain transmitted from birds to humans.
In addition to Russia and Europe, outbreaks of H5N8 have been reported in China, the Middle East and North Africa in recent months – but so far only in poultry.
Other strains of bird flu, such as H5N1, H7N9 and H9N2, are known to spread to humans.
Seven workers at a Russian poultry factory were infected with the H5N8 mutation in December during an outbreak at the plant, Popova said, adding that everyone recovered quickly.
“This situation has not developed further,” she said in late February.