#15,712
Earlier today Sharon Sanders on FluTrackers posted a WHO report on the third human infection with H5N6 reported out of China in the past 2 months (see FT Thread).After a lull of more than a year in reports, this is the third case announced out of China in less than a month (see Dec 12th Report and Dec 21st Report). Addionally, last November Laos Reported the H5N1 Human Infection In 18 Months.
This resurgence comes more than 3 years after China's aggressive nationwide H5+H7 poultry vaccination campaign, which is credited with greatly suppressing avian flu activity in China, and surrounding countries (see 2019's OFID: Avian H5, H7 & H9 Contamination Before & After China's Massive Poultry Vaccination Campaign).
While the number of reported human infections with HPAI H5N6 remains low, among known cases it carries a very high (> 50%) mortality rate, and so we watch its spread, and evolution with considerable interest (see Nature Sci Rpts: H5N6 Viruses Exhibit Varying Pathogenicity & Transmissibility In Mammals).
Avian Influenza Weekly Update Number 774
8 January 2021
Human infection with avian influenza A(H5) viruses
Human infection with avian influenza A(H5N6) virus
Between 1 and 7 January 2021, one new case of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N6) virus was reported to WHO in the Western Pacific Region. The case was a 51-year-old male farmer from Yongchuan, Chongqing, China who had exposure to domestic poultry prior to the onset of illness. He developed symptoms on 18 December 2020, was admitted to hospital on 28 December for severe pneumonia and was reportedly in critical condition at time of report.
In 2020 there were two cases reported from China and this case is the first case reported from China in 2021. To date, a total of 27 laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with influenza A(H5N6) virus have been reported to WHO from China since 2014.
Public health risk assessment for human infection with avian influenza A(H5) viruses
Whenever avian influenza viruses are circulating in poultry, there is a risk for sporadic infection and small clusters of human cases due to exposure to infected poultry or contaminated environments. Therefore, sporadic human cases are not unexpected. With continued incidence of avian influenza due to existing and new influenza A(H5) viruses in poultry, there is a need to remain vigilant in the animal and public health sectors. Community awareness of the potential dangers for human health is essential to prevent infection in humans. Surveillance should be continued to detect human cases and early changes in transmissibility and infectivity of the viruses. For more information on confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H5) virus reported to WHO, visit:
http://www.who.int/influenza/human_animal_interface/en/
For information on monthly risk assessments on Avian Influenza, visit:
http://www.who.int/influenza/human_animal_interface/HAI_Risk_Assessment/en/
This WHO Report also includes a notification of 1 new human infection with LPAI H9N2, this time in a toddler from Guangdong Province. This reports also adds 6 past cases that occurred between July 2019 and December 2020, who were retrospectively detected by ILI surveillance.
Human infection with avian influenza A(H9N2) in China
Between 1 and 7 January 2021, one new case of human infection with avian influenza A(H9N2) virus was reported in the Western Pacific Region. The case was a 1-year-and 4-month-old male from Yunfu, Guangdong Province, China, who had exposure to domestic poultry prior to the onset of illness. He developed mild symptoms on 28 December, 2020 and was admitted to a hospital on 29 December. As of 4 January 2021, no family cluster was reported. This is the first case to be reported from China in 2021.
Additionally, on 9 December 2020, six new cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H9N2) virus were reported in the Western Pacific Region. The cases were retrospectively detected through Influenza like illness Surveillance (ILI) between July 2019 and December 2020. No deaths were reported among the reported cases and all six reported mild symptoms. Five of the cases had exposure to poultry and one case had no clear poultry exposure. No family clusters were reported from any of the six cases. In 2020, there were thirteen cases reported from China. A total of 42 cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H9N2) in China have been reported since December 2015.
