Seven workers at a poultry plant were infected with a bird flu virus in Russia, reported TASS news agency.
These were reported to be the first cases of bird flu being passed to humans from birds in Russia, but there is no sign of transmission between humans so far.
Russia has reported the case to the World Health Organization.
The head of the Rostpotrebnadzor consumer rights protection watchdog confirmed the first case of human infection with the H5N8 strain of the influenza A virus.
“I want to make an announcement on an important scientific discovery by scientists off Rospotrebnadzor’s Vector research center.
“The first case of human infection with the H5N8 strain of the Avian influenza A virus in the Russian Federation was confirmed in a laboratory,” Anna Popova said, as aired on Russia-24 broadcaster.
Scientists have isolated the genetic material of this strain of flu in seven employees of a poultry farm in Russia’s south, where an outbreak was registered among the poultry in December.
“All the seven people that I have mentioned feel fine, they had only mild clinical symptoms,” Popova assured.
