A flu outbreak has recently emerged in China. Lin Xiaoxu, a virology expert and former lab director at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, explained the diverse types of influenza viruses on the NDTTV’s “Health 1+1” program. He warned the public not to overlook the threats from the aggressive avian flu, a variant of influenza type A.
Abnormally High Incidence of Influenza Type A
Respiratory diseases are on the rise this winter in China. Commonly known viruses include influenza, respiratory fusion, human metapneumovirus, rhino, COVID-19, and a variety of other pathogens. The Chinese authorities claim that influenza A accounted for up to
99 percent of all cases this year,
with H1N1 being the dominant strain.However, according to “Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book),” a popular social media based in China, incomplete statistics show that in just three weeks, more than ten users shared cases of children developing acute necrotizing encephalopathy after contracting the flu. The time from onset to death was extremely short, in some cases as little as one or two days.
Lin pointed out a 2023 retrospective study published in Frontiers in Neurology, conducted at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, which analyzed 25 cases of acute necrotizing encephalopathy in children from 2020 to 2023. The results showed that 42 percent of these cases were caused by COVID-19 virus (SARS-CoV-2) infection, and 42 percent were related to influenza A. However, the study did not clearly distinguish whether the reported influenza A cases were caused by common influenza A or avian influenza, which also belongs to the influenza A category.
Complications of acute necrotizing encephalopathy are relatively rare in common influenza A H1N1, while highly pathogenic avian influenza is more likely to lead to such severe illness, Lin said.
A disease prevention worker in China told The Epoch Times that he has encountered more than a hundred cases of H5N1 avian influenza. He warned that H5N1 is likely to become a highly threatening virus strain in the future.
Due to the lack of transparency in official data, with authorities failing to fully disclose information to the public, Lin believes that it is crucial to raise awareness of prevention and be alert to the potential risks of the epidemic.
Distinguish Between Common Influenza A and Avian Flu
Influenza A
Common influenza A includes two virus strains, H1N1 and H3N2.Common symptoms include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, weakness, and aching muscles.
Avian Flu
If the avian flu virus infects humans, especially the highly pathogenic strain, it tends to trigger more serious conditions. Symptoms include high fever, conjunctivitis, shortness of breath, which may cause pneumonia, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Encephalitis is also a common symptom. When the virus invades the brain, it can cause headaches, dizziness, difficulty balancing, and even reduced consciousness. This is especially serious for children and people with weak immune systems and could be life-threatening.
Ways to Stay Safe
- Pay special attention to keeping warm in winter and try to avoid infections in the respiratory tract.
- Try to avoid contact with live poultry in the market.
- Children are the focus of protection. Children who develop symptoms such as high fever, difficulty breathing, and reduced consciousness that are more severe than regular flu symptoms should seek medical attention promptly.
- Medications: Oseltamivir is the most popular. Other drugs, such as baloxavir, that target different viral proteins can also be used, as certain avian flu viruses have exhibited resistance to oseltamivir.
Risk of Avian Flu Mutation in Humans
Genes in the avian flu virus can undergo a wide range of mutations, making them pathogenic with unpredictable transmission pathways to humans, Lin said. The surface proteins of certain avian flu viruses are able to bind to receptors on the surface of the human respiratory tract, resulting in infection. When highly pathogenic avian influenza infects humans, the mortality rate will become higher.China has experienced several outbreaks of avian influenza strains, including H5N1, H5N6, H7N9, H3N8, H9N2, H10N3, and H2N2. Although the avian flu virus has not yet achieved sustained human-to-human transmission, the trend of mutation has attracted much attention from the scientific community.
In addition, researchers from the Chinese military have been conducting high-risk gain-of-function studies on avian flu viruses. On Jan. 6, the Changchun Veterinary Research Institute of the Chinese Agricultural Sciences published a research report in Transboundary and Emerging Diseases.
The researchers isolated a recombinant H5N6 avian flu virus from poultry capable of binding to avian and human receptors and is pathogenic and transmissible. The experiments found that all the mice infected with the virus died within a week. In addition, the virus can be transmitted through direct contact and through aerosols, which may pose a greater threat to human health.
Lin said avian flu has not spread sustainably in the population in the past, mainly because of the limited ability of the virus to spread through aerosols. However, if new viral strains break through this barrier, it will likely increase the risk of more rapid spread in the general public.
What Is Unusual About the Latest Influenza Epidemic?
Although the actual infection numbers in China remain unknown, Lin noted that certain measures taken by the authorities suggest this flu outbreak is unusual.
First, some regions impose restrictions on the sale of live poultry. The Shanghai Municipal Government announced that it will suspend the trading of live poultry for three years. The government of Xinhui District in Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province, issued a notice that the live poultry trade will be banned in specific areas for five years from 2025. Lin believes that this is unusual and, barring profoundly serious circumstances, the government does not need to grant such prohibitive measures.
In addition, Chinese officials have put more emphasis on the “golden treatment” period of 48 hours after the onset of illness than in previous flu seasons, Lin said. This is a clear sign that the severity of the current epidemic exceeds all likelihood of common flu.
Current Status of Avian Flu in the US
Since last year, several states have seen cases of cattle infected with the H5N1 virus on farms. It has been reported that the H5N1 virus may survive in raw milk and beef products, and the public is advised to cook them before eating.To date, a total of 68 cases of H5N1 human infection have been reported, including one death. California, the state hit hardest by the outbreak with 38 cases, has announced a ban on live poultry displays to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. Lin urged other states to follow suit, especially in states like Washington, where epidemics are on the rise.
In addition, Lin suggested that local governments should improve their testing capacity for avian flu and not rely solely on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for testing. At the same time, they should pay special attention to the epidemic status of the aquaculture industry.
Improve Immunity to Avoid Getting Sick
Lin warned that strains of the avian flu virus are constantly mutating, and highly pathogenic strains are gradually breaking through the species barrier, making transmission through humans more likely than before. Although it has not been confirmed that the virus is able to spread from human to human, if the virus achieves aerosol transmission and is accompanied by high pathogenicity in the future, the virus may rapidly adapt to the human host and accelerate its spread, which is a serious threat.He stressed that despite the unclear development of the epidemic, it is crucial to prepare in advance. In particular, people should focus on improving their physical condition and immunity to strengthen their resistance to the virus.
