China: 11 people put in isolation after exposure to chicken infected with H5N2
In a follow up to story a couple of days ago in China’s Hebei province where more than 120,000 birds have been culled after being confirmed positive for the H5N2 avian influenza virus, it is now reported that about 11 people in the region were quarantined on Monday after health authorities confirmed they had direct contact with chicken infected with H5N2 avian influenza virus.
It is reported that the area within 3 km of the farm in Baoding City, where the outbreak that killed 4,000 chickens occurred, has been sealed off by authorities.
As Michael Coston with Avian Flu Diary notes, “The isolation (and usually, antiviral treatment) of those who have been in direct contact with infected birds is standard procedure, and should not be viewed as being particularly alarming. While not normally thought of as a serious threat to public health (see WHO: Human Risk From H5N2 Is Low), we have seen some limited evidence of H5N2’s ability to infect humans in recent years.”
While there are reports of poultry workers seroconverting and producing antibodies to H5N2, it is not clear if it produces any serious disease in humans.
Related story: Taiwan Reports First Ever Occurrence Of H5N3 Bird Flu On Duck Farm
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