China detected the first person infected with avian influenza virus H10N3

Reuters quoted China's National Health Commission (NHC) on June 1 as saying this is the first case of H10N3 virus infection in the world.

The 41-year-old man was hospitalized on April 28 after developing a fever and other symptoms. The patient was later diagnosed with the H10N3 virus . However, authorities did not disclose how the man contracted the virus.

The patient is currently in stable condition and is about to be discharged from the hospital. No further cases of H10N3 virus infection have been detected in people who have been in contact with this man.

A 41-year-old man from Zhenjiang City, Jiangsu Province, Eastern China was confirmed to be infected with the H10N3 avian influenza virus. (Photo courtesy: Reuters).

The NHC reassured the H10N3 virus "has low transmissibility, is relatively mild, and the risk of a pandemic outbreak is very low".

Various strains of avian influenza have been reported in China, causing sporadic infections, often among poultry caretakers. In 2016-2017, the H7N9 strain of the virus killed about 300 people.

Workers disinfect a poultry farm in Anhui province, China. (Photo: AP).

Meanwhile, on May 31, China reported 23 new cases of Covid-19, up from 27 a day earlier. Of the 23 new cases, 12 were imported and 11 were from Guangdong province. NHC has not recorded any new Covid-19 deaths.

As of May 31, China had a total of 91,122 cases of Covid-19 and the number of deaths remained unchanged at 4,636.

On the same day, May 31, Beijing re-imposed travel restrictions in Guangdong province, announcing that anyone leaving a densely populated area must be tested for Covid-19.

Those who leave Guangdong province by plane, train, bus or car after 10pm on May 31 must present nucleic acid test results within the past 72 hours. Truck driver checkpoints are also set up on major roads.

This move comes after the number of Covid-19 cases in China " spilled " . On the evening of May 30, Guangdong province reported 20 more cases of Covid-19. This figure is quite low but still causes concern for Chinese leaders.

China eased most of its domestic travel restrictions after declaring it "under control of the Covid-19 epidemic". Even so, foreign visitors are still required to be tested.