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While avian flu reports have dropped markedly over the past year from China - widely attributed to last summer's massive H5+H7 poultry vaccination campaign - over the past couple of months we've begun to see a small uptick in HPAI H5N6 outbreaks, including two human infections.
Last August China reported their 2nd human infection of 2018 (see Guangxi Province Report Their 3rd Human H5N6 Infection), followed in late September by their 3rd (see HK CHP Notified Of Human H5N6 Case In Gaungdong Province).
On September 29th the MOA Announced An HPAI H5N6 Outbreak In Guizhou Province Poultry, followed on October 9th by an H5N6 Outbreak In Hunan Province Poultry.
Today China's MOA is reporting an outbreak in Hubei Province.
A highly pathogenic avian influenza epidemic of poultry H5N6 subtype occurred in the point army area of Hubei ProvinceAlthough the number of reported human infections remains small - and it has yet to stray beyond China, Vietnam and Laos - the fatality rate of H5N6 is comparable to H7N9, and recent studies (see below) suggest this HPAI H5 virus continues to accrue mammalian adaptations.
Date: 2018-10-24 18:30 Author: Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Press Office
The Information Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs released on October 24, a high-pathogenic avian influenza epidemic of poultry H5N6 subtype occurred in the Dianjun District of Yichang City, Hubei Province.
On October 24, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs received a report from the China Animal Disease Prevention and Control Center and was diagnosed by the National Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory. The epidemic situation of a farmer raising poultry in the Dianjun District of Yichang City, Hubei Province was H5N6 subtype highly pathogenic poultry. The flu epidemic, 529 poultry, 340 birds, 340 deaths.
After the outbreak, the local authorities adhered to the relevant laws and regulations on prevention and control, adhered to the law prevention and control, scientific prevention and control, and effectively handled the epidemic situation. They have culled 4,997 poultry, and all the sick and culled poultry have been treated harmlessly. At present, the epidemic has been effectively disposed of.
J. Infect.: Pathogenicity & Transmissibility of 3 Avian H5N6 Viruses Isolated From Wild Birds
Arch. Of Virology: Novel Reassortant H5N6 Isolated From Cats - Eastern China
Emerg. Microbes & Inf.: Human Infections With A Novel Reassortant H5N6
Nature Sci Rpts: H5N6 Viruses Exhibit Varying Pathogenicity & Transmissibility In Mammals
