A woman in China has tested positive for a new variant of bird flu, which has caused outbreaks across the world.
The latest confirmed case of the H5N1 virus is a woman aged 53 from the eastern province of Jiangsu.
She is thought to have developed symptoms on January 31 after being exposed to poultry.
She then tested positive some time in February, but her current condition is still unknown.
Her case comes to light a week after a girl and her dad from Cambodia were also infected with a similar variant.
The 11-year-old became the first person in the country to die from bird flu since 2014.
She was from the rural province of Prey Veng, and became ill on February 16 after ducks and chickens at her home died suddenly.
She was transferred to a children’s hospital in Phnom Penh but died a week ago.
Her 49-year-old dad tested positive a few days later but has not become seriously ill.
As a result, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said it is ‘worried’ about the spread of bird flu.
Director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention, Dr Sylvie Briand confirmed last week that the UN agency is working with Cambodian authorities amid the outbreak.
She said: ‘The global H5N1 situation is worrying given the wide spread of the virus in birds around the world and the increasing reports of cases in mammals including humans.
‘WHO takes the risk from this virus seriously and urges heightened vigilance from all countries.’
Meanwhile, Argentina confirmed its first case of bird flu in industrial poultry this Tuesday.
Secretary Juan Jose Bahillo said on Twitter the avian product exports will be axed as a result.
The case was detected in the southern province of Rio Negro, and now there are concerns the disease could spread and hurt exports from the South American nation.
‘Our poultry products continue to be safe for Argentines. The suspension of exports responds to the requirements of international regulations,’ Mr Bahillo said.
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