Chinese researchers have announced a new strain of bird flu. It's called H10N8 and it's being blamed for the death of an elderly Chinese woman in December. Their findings are published in the British medical publication "The Lancet."

The bird flu strain H10N8 has only been found previously in poultry.

But a 73-year-old woman in Nanchang City, in eastern China, became the world's first confirmed human case.

She later died from the illness.

Chinese scientists have now published a detailed review of H10N8 in the Lancet.

Lead author Dr Shu Yuelong says it was a rare case.

"H10N8 is not as infectious as H7N9 which has already infected over a hundred people in China. There's the possibility of more people getting the new virus but the likelihood is low." Shu Yuelong said.

Medical experts say it's not a significant threat to public health but they are monitoring the situation.

They say the virus has developed characteristics which could allow it to replicate in humans.

"Human to human transmission of H10N8 is unlikely but you cannot rule out the possibility." Shu Yuelong said.

China has been grappling with another bird flu strain, H7N9.

This year more than 110 people have contracted the infection.

With the highest number of cases in Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces.

At least 25 people have died since January.

With an increasing number of bird flu cases there's growing public concern about the possibility of people-to-people transmission. But health experts say there have been no recorded cases.