#16,571
China continues to belatedly report human cases of HPAI H5N6, adding two more cases with onsets on or before the middle of last month. This makes 5 new cases reported between January 1st and the 15th 2022, and a total 67 cases since the virus first emerged in 2014 (see map above).
China often `strategically' releases `bad news', so it is anyone's guess how many more may be in the queue. Between the ongoing Winter Olympics in Beijing, the Lunar New Year Travel Season, and the current COVID crisis in Hong Kong, China may be even less inclined to report new cases right now.
Both of the cases reported today are listed in critical condition, and both are linked to recent poultry exposure. First, we have the Hong Kong CHP release, and then I'll return with a postscript.
CHP closely monitors two human cases of avian influenza A(H5N6) in Mainland
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (February 15) closely monitoring two human cases 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 first case involves a 50-year-old man living in Baise City in Guangxi, who had exposure to live poultry. He developed symptoms on January 12, and was admitted for treatment on January 13. The patient is in critical condition.
The second case involves a 35-year-old man living in Zhenjiang City in Jiangsu Province, who had visited live poultry market before onset. He developed symptoms on January 15, and was admitted for treatment on January 19. The patient is in critical condition.
From 2014 to date, 67 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/Tuesday, February 15, 2022
Issued at HKT 17:42
Unlike the Eurasian H5N1 virus that is causing outbreaks in wild birds and poultry in Europe and North America - but poses a low threat to human health - HPAI H5N6 has a track record of causing serious illness, and often death, in the humans it infects.
Given the recent increased level of H5N6 activity in China, this avian flu virus is suddenly back on everyone's radar (see CDC Adds A New H5N6 Avian Flu Virus To IRAT List). So far, however, it hasn't demonstrated the ability to transmit efficiently from human-to-human.
With luck that may never happen, but another pandemic is inevitable (see PNAS Research: Intensity and Frequency of Extreme Novel Epidemics), and it could easily be worse than COVID.
Many countries are slow or reluctant to report disease outbreaks, and that problem seems to have gotten worse since the emergence of COVID, not better (see Flying Blind In the Age Of Pandemics & Emerging Infectious Diseases).
The 2005 IHR (International Health Regulations) requires that all member nations develop mandated surveillance and testing systems and to report certain disease outbreaks and public health events to WHO in a timely manner (see (see Adding Accountability To The IHR).
But sadly - for a variety of reasons - that still doesn't happen as often, or as immediately, as it should.
The fact that after 17 years we're still having this conversation means the entire world remains unnecessarily vulnerable to being blindsided by the next `big' public health crisis.
Again.
