Charlie Cooper
Independent.co.uk
February 5, 2014
The new strain is a variant of a virus known as H10N8, which scientists believe may have originated in wild birds, and later spread to poultry.
The victim, a 73-year-old woman from Nanchang City in south-eastern China, was the first person confirmed to have been infected with the new type, and a second case has since been discovered, raising concerns that the virus has evolved so that it can transfer easily from birds to humans.
Its emergence coincides with a surge in the number of cases of another bird flu strain, H7N9, which is known to have infected 286 people since March last year, causing 60 deaths.
The Emergency Election Sale is now live! Get 30% to 60% off our most popular products today!