#16,397
After a 5 week lull, China is reporting another human H5N6 infection - their 27th of the past year - this time from Sichuan Province, where this virus was first detected in a human in the spring of 2014.
Although we've been following H5N6 for nearly 8 years, more than half of all known human infections have occurred in the past 12 months. Many were reported over the summer months, a time of year when avian flu transmission is usually subdued.
This recent uptick in activity has spurred a number of recent risk analyses from public health agencies around the globe (see here, here, and here), leading up to yesterdays' CDC Adds A New H5N6 Avian Flu Virus To IRAT List.
While the general consensus is that H5N6 isn't ready for prime time - as it does not yet transmit readily from human-to-human - this avian virus continues to evolve, and it is being closely monitored for signs of mammalian adaptation.
The announcement from Hong Kong's CHP follows, after which I'll have a brief postscript:
CHP closely monitors human case of avian influenza A(H5N6) in MainlandChina's year-long surge in H5N6 infections comes after a 3-year lull following the introduction of a new H5+H7 poultry vaccine in China, which - along with recent surveillance reports (see here & here) - suggests that some H5N6 viruses may have evolved away from the vaccine's protection and are now spreading stealthily in poultry.
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (December 8) closely monitoring a human case of avian influenza A(H5N6) in the Mainland, and again urged the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel.
The case involves a 54-year-old woman living in Zigong in Sichuan Province, who had exposure to deceased backyard poultry before the onset of symptoms. She developed symptoms on November 17, and was admitted for treatment on November 21 and passed away on November 23.
From 2014 to date, 52 human cases of avian influenza A(H5N6) have been reported by Mainland health authorities.
"All novel influenza A infections, including H5N6, are notifiable infectious diseases in Hong Kong," a spokesman for the CHP said.
Travellers to the Mainland or other affected areas must avoid visiting wet markets, live poultry markets or farms. They should be alert to the presence of backyard poultry when visiting relatives and friends. They should also avoid purchasing live or freshly slaughtered poultry, and avoid touching poultry/birds or their droppings. They should strictly observe personal and hand hygiene when visiting any place with live poultry.
Travellers returning from affected areas should consult a doctor promptly if symptoms develop, and inform the doctor of their travel history for prompt diagnosis and treatment of potential diseases. It is essential to tell the doctor if they have seen any live poultry during travel, which may imply possible exposure to contaminated environments. This will enable the doctor to assess the possibility of avian influenza and arrange necessary investigations and appropriate treatment in a timely manner.
While local surveillance, prevention and control measures are in place, the CHP will remain vigilant and work closely with the World Health Organization and relevant health authorities to monitor the latest developments.
The public should maintain strict personal, hand, food and environmental hygiene and take heed of the advice below when handling poultry:The public may visit the CHP's pages for more information: the avian influenza page, the weekly Avian Influenza Report, global statistics and affected areas of avian influenza, the Facebook Page and the YouTube Channel.
- Avoid touching poultry, birds, animals or their droppings;
- When buying live chickens, do not touch them and their droppings. Do not blow at their bottoms. Wash eggs with detergent if soiled with faecal matter and cook and consume the eggs immediately. Always wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling chickens and eggs;
- Eggs should be cooked well until the white and yolk become firm. Do not eat raw eggs or dip cooked food into any sauce with raw eggs. Poultry should be cooked thoroughly. If there is pinkish juice running from the cooked poultry or the middle part of its bone is still red, the poultry should be cooked again until fully done;
- Wash hands frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes, before handling food or eating, and after going to the toilet, touching public installations or equipment such as escalator handrails, elevator control panels or door knobs, or when hands are dirtied by respiratory secretions after coughing or sneezing; and
- Wear a mask if fever or respiratory symptoms develop, when going to a hospital or clinic, or while taking care of patients with fever or respiratory symptoms.
Ends/Wednesday, December 8, 2021
Issued at HKT 17:30
Hence HK's warnings not to visit live bird markets, or have contact with live poultry.
Given the limits of China's surveillance and testing for influenza, it is likely that there are more H5N6 infections than even Chinese officials are aware of. A 2013 study (see Lancet: Clinical Severity Of Human H7N9 Infection) estimated the number of H7N9 cases during the spring of that year was likely between 12 and 200-times greater than had been reported by China.
All reasons why we follow reports of this virus so closely.
