Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Could influenza A(H3N8) be a threat to my pet?
By Yassine, Hadi M & Smatti, Maria K·Published in International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases·2022·Qatar University·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Will influenza A(H3N8) cause a major public health threat?
Plain-English summary
Influenza A(H3N8) is a type of flu virus that can jump between different species, which is concerning for both people and animals. This virus is often found in wild birds and has been seen in outbreaks among horses and dogs. The first known case of a human getting infected with A(H3N8) happened in April 2022, when a 4-year-old boy in China got sick. So far, there’s no proof that this virus can spread easily between people, but more research is needed to understand how it behaves in human cells and what risks it might pose to public health. Overall, while the situation is being monitored, there is currently no indication that A(H3N8) is a major threat to humans.
Abstract
The diversity of zoonotic influenza viruses and their ability to cross the species barrier has always been alarming and requires continuous surveillance in both human and animal populations. Avian A(H3N8) influenza viruses are frequently detected in animals and represent one of the most common subtypes in wild birds. Cross-species transmission of avian A(H3N8) influenza viruses has been reported for multiple mammalian hosts, including the outbreaks in horses and dogs by the equine and canine lineages of A(H3N8), respectively. In humans, there was no evidence of influenza A(H3N8) infection until 25 April 2022, when the Chinese health authority reported the first-ever human H3N8 case in a 4-year-old boy from Henan province. Although there is no information that this virus can sustain human transmission, additional epidemiological and virological studies are needed to better assess the replication potency of the virus in human cells as well as the risk posed to public health. In this study, we briefly discuss the influenza A(H3N8) interspecies transmission of the virus, with emphasis on human transmission.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36075373/