- China's last reported human H5N6 infection was announced on January 6th (for a case who was hospitalized on Nov 5th , 2022); a delay of 62 days.
- The H5N1 case before that was hospitalized on September 25, died on October 18th, and was reported on November 30th; a delay of 66 days.
- Today's case, announced by Hong Kong's CHP, fell ill on December 17, 2022, and was reported today. A delay of 74 days.
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 1) 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 49-year-old man living in Qingyuan, Guangdong, who had contact with live domestic poultry before the onset of symptoms. He developed symptoms on December 17, 2022. He was admitted for treatment on December 21, 2022, and was in serious condition.
From 2014 to date, 83 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.(SNIP)
Ends/Wednesday, March 1, 2023
Issued at HKT 17:00
Despite linking most human H5N6 infections to contact with infected poultry, China has not reported a concurrent jump in H5N6 outbreaks in poultry. Admittedly, getting timely reports from China on disease outbreaks - in humans, wild birds, or poultry - has always been difficult.
Ineffective poultry vaccines (see EID Journal: Novel Reassortant Avian Influenza A(H5N6) Virus, China, 2021), however, may be allowing the virus to spread asymptomatically in poultry, where it continues to evolve, and occasionally spills over into humans.
Between 2014 and late 2020, China reported only 25 human cases of H5N6. Since then, more than 55 new cases have been announced. While the outcomes of these infections are not always divulged, many have proved fatal.
Due to this recent increased level of H5N6 activity in China, the world has taken notice (see CDC Adds A New H5N6 Avian Flu Virus To IRAT List, WHO: Assessment of Risk Associated with Influenza A(H5N6) Virus and UK HSA Risk Assessment On HPAI H5N6).
Recent studies (see Study: Influenza A (H6N6) Viruses Isolated from Chickens Replicate in Mice and Human lungs Without Prior Adaptation) suggest the H5N6 virus continues to adapt to mammalian hosts. Last summer, the Lancet published Resurgence of H5N6 Avian Influenza Virus in 2021 Poses New Threat to Public Health.
However, between the `fog of COVID', limited testing and surveillance (particularly in rural areas of China), and belated reporting, it is difficult to accurately gauge the current threat posed by H5Nx in China.
But given the upward trend of H5N1 spillovers around the globe, the lack of information out of China is less than reassuring.
