#16,674
Reports of H5N6 infection in China have slowed to a trickle over the past 2 months, with only 2 cases reported as occurring since the end of January (1 in February, and today's). Curiously, both of these are reported from provinces that have never reported human cases in the past; Jiangxi and Henan.Hotspots in 2021, like Guangxi, Sichuan, and Hunan province have gone strangely quiet.
Whether this is due to a genuine drop in infections, or is part of China's policy of `strategically' releasing information, is impossible to know. China often releases case reports belatedly, without explanation.
In any event, the report from Hong Kong's CHP follows:
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 (April 6) 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 28-year-old male living in Puyang in Henan Province, who had exposure to live poultry before onset. He developed symptoms on March 18 and was admitted for treatment on March 19. He is in critical condition.
From 2014 to date, 75 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:
- 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.
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.
Ends/Wednesday, April 6, 2022
Issued at HKT 18:00
Given the unusually high number of H5N6 infections reported by China over the summer of 2021 - a time of year when avian flu transmission is generally at its lowest - this apparent drop in human cases during the winter months is unexpected.
China's current challenges dealing with COVID, however, may have something to do with this lack of H5N6 reporting.
Stay tuned.
