“SECOND HUMAN H9N2 BIRD FLU CASE CONFIRMED IN INDIA BY WHO”
Why in the news?
- A human case of bird flu (H9N2) was detected in a four-year-old in West Bengal, marking the second such case in India.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) reported the case, highlighting the child’s exposure to poultry and subsequent recovery after treatment.
Key facts:Avian Influenza Virus (H9N2):
- Subtype: H9N2 is a subtype of the influenza A virus, causing human influenza and bird flu.
- Only influenza A virus is divided into subtypes based on surface proteins hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N).
- Distribution: Found worldwide in wild birds; endemic in poultry in many regions.
- Origin: Poultry acts as a genetic incubator for the H9N2 virus, which can infect humans.
- Range: Symptoms vary from mild, flu-like or eye inflammation to severe, acute respiratory disease or death.
source: researchgate
About World Health Organization (WHO):
Associated Article: https://universalinstitutions.com/the-spread-of-avian-influenza/ |