What is H10N3 Bird Flu
H10N3 is a rare strain of bird flu. It is low pathogenic, meaning it causes relatively less severe disease in poultry and is unlikely to cause a large-scale outbreak. It is also an occasional poultry-to-human cross-species transmission, the NHC said.
What is H10N3 Bird Flu Origin
The first human case of the H10N3 strain of bird flu was first reported in China by the Chinese officials. The virus infected a 41-year-old man in China’s eastern province of Jiangsu who was hospitalized on April 28, 2021 and was diagnosed with H10N3 on May 28, 2021. He is in stable condition, and no other human cases of H10N3 have been reported.
How Does H10N3 Bird Flu Spread to Humans
Infected birds shed avian flu in their saliva, mucus and poop. Humans can get infected when enough of the virus gets in the eyes, nose, mouth or is inhaled from infected droplets or dust. However, the spread of avian flu from birds to humans doesn’t happen often.
In a statement, China’s National Health Commission emphasized that there was no evidence that the strain had the ability to spread among humans, adding that the risk of a significant outbreak was “very low.”
What are H10N3 Bird Flu Symptoms
The NHC did not specify H10N3 symptoms, but bird flu has some universal signs. They include:
- Very high temperature, feeling hot or shivery
- Muscle aches
- Headache
- A cough
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Stomach ache
- Chest pain
- Conjunctivitis
- A bleeding nose or gums
H10N3 Bird Flu Treatment
People with the flu should drink plenty of water and rest. Most people will recover within a week. Antiviral drugs like oseltamivir (Tamiflu), peramivir or zanamivir can reduce severe complications and deaths although influenza viruses can develop resistance to the drugs. They are especially important for high-risk groups. Ideally these drugs need to be administered early (within 48 hours of onset of symptoms). Antibiotics are not effective against influenza viruses.
H10N3 Bird Flu Deaths
As at June 2, 2021 there are no reported global human deaths from H10N3 bird flu.
Since experts aren’t concerned about wide-scale spread, and because they don’t know if the virus can be spread via person-to-person contact, there’s nothing to be worried about at this time, says Dr. Javaid. “Knowing about this is important,” he says, “[but] right now, it’s more of a wait, watch, and see.”
