Another Virus

Angie SzumlinskiNews

According to the New York Times, Chinese health officials confirmed the world’s first known human infection from a strain of bird flu called H10N3 on June 1, 2021. The 41-year-old man in China’s easter Jiangsu province contracted the virus and was hospitalized April 28. China’s CDC performed genome sequencing on a virus sample from the man on May 28 and determined he’d been infected with H10N3. It’s not clear how the man, who is now in stable condition, contracted the virus.

After a frightening year of illness, death and economic loss, this information should make everyone stop and think. It is interesting that it took a month before genome sequencing was performed considering what we learned about variants over the past 6 months. Although these types of viruses don’t easily spread to humans, the last thing we need to be worried about now that we are on the road to recovery, is another viral attack.

Be sure that you are testing residents and staff appropriately, isolating when needed, removing from the work schedule if symptomatic or positive for COVID-19, and remember, even a summer cold spreads like fire! Educate your staff on the importance of not sharing! Stay well, stay informed, and stay tuned!