(Photo: Photo by Artem Beliaikin from Pexels)

On Saturday, Russian scientists detected the world's first case of H5N8 avian flu transmission from birds to humans.

Anna Popova, Russia's health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor says in a televised remark that scientists from the Vektor Laboratory isolated the strain's genetic material from 7 poultry farm workers in southern Russia where an outbreak among birds was first reported in December.

According to Popova, workers didn't suffer from any severe health consequences; scientists believe that they contracted the avian flu strain from poultry on the farm.

Popova says, "Information about the world's first case of transmission of the avian flu (H5n*) to humans has already been sent to the World Health Organization."

WHO spokesperson says that the organization is currently discussing with national authorities to gather more information and assess public health impacts of events.

The spokesperson adds, "If confirmed, this would be the first time H5N8 infects people."

People are known to get infected with avian and swine flu subtypes like H5N1 and H7N9. According to WHO, people often contract infections from contact with animals, contaminated environments, and sustained transmissions among humans.

H5N8 outbreaks in bird poultry farms have also been reported in the UK, Scotland, Wales, and more.

The Vektor Institute, Siberia, said on Saturday that it would begin developing human tests and vaccines against the H5N8 avian bird flu strain.

What is H5N8 Avian Flu?

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, avian influenza is a highly contagious disease spread across the globe in bird populations. Occasionally the zoonotic infections from poultry to humans result in a severe public health crisis.

In 2010, strains of H5N8 avian flu strains were detected in wild birds in Asia that later spread to domestic bird populations across Japan, China, and South Korea.

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H5N8 Symptoms

According to the NHS, the main symptoms of H5N8 and other bird flu strains often include the rapid appearance of the following symptoms:

High-temperature fevers,
Aching muscles,
Cough, and
Headaches

Early symptoms can also include:

Diarrhea,
Stomach pain,
Chest pain,
Conjunctivitis, and
Bleeding from nose and gums

It often takes roughly 3 to 5 days for symptoms to appear after infection; within days from displaying the first symptoms, it's possible to develop severe complications such as acute respiratory distress syndrome and pneumonia.

Is It Lethal for Humans?

Despite other avian flu strains causing severe public health crises in the past, the H5N8 avian flu strain isn't lethal to humans. In fact, the 7 poultry farmworkers are reported to be asymptomatic and are feeling well, says Popova.

Although the strain is contagious and lethal for birds, it has never been reported to have spread in humans, let alone caused casualties. Popova says that the important scientific discovery gives scientists time to prepare and study possible mutations, tests for humans, and ample time for vaccines if needed in the future.

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