#16,638
The trickle of case reports of human H5N6 infections coming out of China continues today with the first reported case from Jiangxi Province. The case involves a 51-year-old female living in Nanchang, who had prior exposure to poultry, and who fell ill on February 20th. She was hospitalized on the 23rd, and is listed in critical condition.
The statement from Hong Kong's CHP follows, after which I'll have a postscript.After reporting 9 cases in January, this is the first case announced from February. Given China's history of belatedly reporting avian flu cases, there may be others in the queue we haven't heard about.
CHP closely monitors human case of avian influenza A(H5N6) in Mainland
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (March 15) 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 51-year-old female living in Nanchang in Jiangxi Province, who had exposure to live domestic poultry before onset. She developed symptoms on February 20 and was admitted for treatment on February 23. She is in critical condition.
From 2014 to date, 74 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, March 15, 2022Issued at HKT 17:45
H5N6 is currently the most active, and deadliest, avian flu affecting humans reported worldwide. Over the past 15 months China has reported more than 4 dozen cases, roughly twice as many cases as were reported between 2014-2020.
So far, H5N6 has not shown an ability to transmit readily from human-to-human, and remains primarily a health concern to those in China who have direct contact with poultry.
But, as we saw in PLoS Path: H9N2 Virus-derived M1 Protein Promotes H5N6 Virus Release in Mammalian Cells these HPAI H5 viruses continue to evolve, making them a genuine concern.
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. All reasons why we follow reports of this virus so closely.
