Woman, 63, dies from lethal combination of two strains of bird flu after developing a cough and sore throat

A WOMAN has died from a lethal combination of two strains of bird flu.

The 63-year-old, from the Anhui province, China, was infected with H3N2 and H10N5 after coming into contact with diseased birds.

She developed symptoms, including a cough, sore throat and fever, on November 30 and died on December 16, the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration said.

Close contacts of the patient, who reportedly had underlying health conditions, were screened and all tests came back negative, it added.

The “isolated” infection was attributed to cross-species spread, but officials insist the risk to humans remains low.

“The outbreak is an episodic cross-species transmission from bird to humans,” a spokesperson said.

Although the virus mainly affects birds, it can jump to humans – especially those in close contact with poultry.

Research shows the death rate can be as high as 60 per cent.

As one of the world’s biggest poultry producers, China’s huge populations of both farmed and wild birds creates an ideal environment for avian viruses to mix and mutate.

Backyard farms and wet markets in the country are still common, and many people still prefer to buy live chickens on the street.

There are four types of flu – A, B, C and D.

Influenza A viruses have been detected and are known to circulate in seven different animal species or groups, including humans, wild water birds, domestic poultry, swine, horses, dogs and bats.

There are lots of different strains, but the four of highest concern are H5N1, H7N9, H5N6 and H5N8, according to the NHS.

From January 2003 to December 2023, a total of 882 confirmed human cases of A(H5N1) were reported from 23 countries – including the UK, US and China, World Health Organization data shows.

Of these, 52 per cent were fatal.

There is no human bird flu vaccine on the market, but the UK government is said to be drawing up plans to stockpile regular flu jabs in case of a pandemic.

It would be the first time it has been done for the disease, regarded as a top threat for the next global health emergency.

There have been five confirmed cases of bird flu in the UK since 2022.