All about H5N8, the bird flu strain which infected humans in Russia

The H5N8 strain is a sub-type of the Influenza A virus that usually affects birds and mammals. The virus is highly lethal to wild birds and poultry. (Image: File photo)

Until the recent discovery in Russia, it was believed that it doesn't transmit to humans. H5N8 is different from the more common H1N1 strain, which has known to affect humans around the world on several occasions.

Last month, India reported the outbreak in the migratory birds following which several thousands of birds were culled. According to officials in Kerala, about 40,000 domestic birds, including 34,000 in the Kuttanad region alone, had to be culled in the state to check the spread of the H5N8 virus. (ANI photo)

One of the earliest and most well-known outbreaks of H5N8 strain of avian flu occurred in Ireland in 1983. About 8,000 turkeys, 28,020 chickens, and 270,000 ducks had to be culled as the infection spread through the region.

There have been several other instances of H5N8 outbreaks including that of South Korea in 2014, European countries like Austria, Hungary and Germany in 2016.

The outbreaks have also been reported in India, Israel, Taiwan and Russia.

Food regulator FSSAI mentioned that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated it is safe to consume poultry meat and eggs and there is no epidemiological data to suggest the disease can be transmitted to humans through cooked food. FSSAI has advised consumers not to eat half-boiled eggs and undercooked chicken.