Avian Flu Diary: Two Outbreaks Of H5N6 In Poultry

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Since launching an aggressive nationwide H5+H7 poultry vaccination program during the summer of 2017, avian influenza reports (in poultry, and in humans) have dropped precipitously across China.

While H7N9 remains largely suppressed, over the past few months we've seen an uptick in HPAI H5N6 activity - both in poultry and in humans:

In mid August China reported their 2nd human infection of 2018 (see Guangxi Province Report Their 3rd Human H5N6 Infection)
That was 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.
In the third week of October we saw : China MOA: H5N6 Outbreak In Hubei Province Poultry
And on October 31st the HK CHP was Notified Of Fatal H5N6 Case In Guangxi Province, the 4th human infection of 2018.

Today China's MOA is reporting two outbreaks of HPAI H5N6 in Yunnan Province - roughly 400 km apart. One of the outbreaks - in Tengchong City- is only about 40 miles from the Myanmar border. The other - in Luquan County - is roughly 250 miles to the east in central Yunnan Province.

A highly pathogenic avian influenza epidemic of poultry H5N6 subtype occurred in Tengchong City and Luquan County, Yunnan Province.

Date: 2018-11-21 18:17 Author: Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Press Office

The Information Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs released on November 21, and a high-pathogenic avian influenza epidemic of poultry H5N6 subtype occurred in Tengchong City and Luquan County of Yunnan Province.

On November 20, 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 poultry breeding in a farm in Tengchong City, Yunnan Province was H5N6 subtype highly pathogenic avian influenza. There are 5,050 poultry, 4,800 pigeons, and 44,200 deaths;
the epidemic situation of poultry breeding in a farm in Luquan County, Yunnan Province is H5N6 subtype highly pathogenic avian influenza epidemic, with 8980 birds and poultry, 6540 pigeons, and 5400 deaths. feather.

After the outbreak occurred, the local authorities adhered to the relevant laws and regulations, prevention and control, scientific prevention and control, and effectively handled the epidemic situation. They have culled 10,280 poultry, and all the sick and culled poultry have been treated harmlessly.

While the subtype is the same, this Asian HPAI H5N6 virus should not be confused with the milder European origin HPAI H5N6 virus reassortment that turned up in South Korea, Japan, and Northern Europe last winter.

Both their lineage and threat to human health are quite different.

Asian HPAI H5N6 - while only identified in 22 patients so far - has proven to be fatal in more than half those cases. So far - unlike it's HPAI H5N8 and HPAI H5N1 cousins - it has yet to spread beyond Asia via migratory birds.

As with all influenza viruses, Asian H5N6 continues to evolve, and it has shown worrisome signs of increased mammalian adaptation since it emerged in 2014 (see EID Journal: HPAI H5N6 In Domestic Cats - Korea, 2016).

For more on the history of this lesser known virus, you may wish to revisit: