Russia reports first case of human infection with AH5N8 bird flu to WHO

FILE PHOTO: Chickens await vaccination against bird flu at the settlement Peredovoi 100 km (62 miles) from the Russia’s southern city of Stavropol, March 11, 2006. REUTERS/Eduard Korniyenko/File Photo

MOSCOW— Russia has registered the first case of a strain of bird flu virus named AH5N8 being passed to humans from birds and has reported the case to the World Health Organization (WHO), Anna Popova, head of consumer health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, said on Saturday.

Russia reported the case to the WHO “several days ago, just as we became absolutely certain of our results,” Popova said on Rossiya 24 state TV.

There was no sign of transmission between humans so far, she added.

Previously another strain of bird flu – H5N1 – has been known to spread to humans.

Seven workers at a poultry plant in Russia’s south were infected with the AH5N8 strain when there was an outbreak at the plant in December, she said, adding that they feel fine now.

“This situation did not develop further,” Popova said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) did not reply to a Reuters’ request for comment.