H5N6 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus (sometimes called bird flu virus). Infected birds shed the virus in their saliva, mucus, and feces. The virus was first detected in poultry in 2013, since then spreading among wild bird populations and poultry around the world. Humans can be infected through unprotected contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces. The virus transmits by getting into a person's eyes, nose, mouth, and through inhalation. Human infections are rare. Since 2014, at least 94 cases have occurred in humans.[1] 37 people have died. A spike in human cases was reported in 2021. There have been no confirmed cases of human-to-human transmission. Some infections have been identified where no direct contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces has been known to had occurred. Only one infected woman has said that she never came into any contact with poultry.[2][3][4][5]
| Influenza A virus subtype H5N6 | |
|---|---|
Virus classification 
| |
| (unranked): | Virus |
| Realm: | Riboviria |
| Kingdom: | Orthornavirae |
| Phylum: | Negarnaviricota |
| Class: | Insthoviricetes |
| Order: | Articulavirales |
| Family: | Orthomyxoviridae |
| Genus: | Alphainfluenzavirus |
| Species: | |
| Serotype: | Influenza A virus subtype H5N6
|
2016
editIn November and December human cases of H5N6 were reported in China.[6] From October to December, four outbreaks were also reported in China, resulting in the culling of over 170,000 birds.[7] In December, H5N6 avian influenza was reported in bird droppings in Hong Kong.[8]
In December, South Korea raised its bird flu alert to highest level for the first time.[9]
2017
editAn Australian test confirmed that the August 2017 bird flu outbreak in Pampanga was of the subtype H5N6.[10]
2020
editCoinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic, H5N6 caused the deaths of 1,840 of 2,497 birds at a poultry farm in China's Sichuan province.[11]
25,000 birds were culled in total in a Philippines poultry outbreak. A 7-mile zone constricting poultry movement was also established.[12]
2021
editThe first reported human case outside of China was detected in Laos. A five-year-old boy from Luang Prabang Province tested positive after being exposed to poultry.[13]
At least 16 isolated cases were reported in China between July and September 2021, including a case in a 26-year-old woman from Guilin who died. A 61-year-old woman who was infected in July has denied ever coming into contact with poultry.[14][15] On 3 October, the World Health Organization said wider surveillance was urgently required to better understand the risk and the recent increase of spill over to humans.[3]
On October 26, 2021, Thijs Kuiken, a professor of comparative pathology at Erasmus University Medical Centre in Rotterdam, said the rise in human cases could be explained by a new variant which is "a little more infectious" to people.[16]
2022
editOn January 7, 2022, a 43-year-old woman in the Guangdong province of China was hospitalised.[17]
On January 13, 2022, five more people in the Guangxi autonomous region, the Sichuan province, and the Zhejiang province of China were reported to be infected, two of whom have died.[18]
On March 18, 2022, a 28-year-old man from Puyang in Henan Province, was hospitalized.[19]
On March 24, 2022, a 53-year-old woman from Zhenjiang City in Jiangsu Province, was hospitalized.[19]
A 56-year-old male living in Deyang City (Sichuan Province) became the 13th case of 2022 when on March 31, 2022, he developed symptoms. He was hospitalized on April 4.[20]
2023
editOn August 23, the case of a 27-year-old woman from Sichuan province was reported.[1][21]
On September 27, a fatal case in a 68-year-old man from Chongqing was reported.[1][22] This was 6th case of H5N6 in 2023 within China.
On November 14, a 33-year-old woman from China died three weeks after testing positive (on October 22), having caught the disease in Bazhong.[23]
On November 25, a 59-year-old woman from Sichuan province was hospitalised.[24]
2024
editTwo cases in Fujian Province were fatal: a 41-year old man (June 20), and a 52 year old woman (May 28).[25][26]
Sources
edit- ^ a b c "CHP closely monitors human case of avian influenza A(H5N6) on Mainland". www.info.gov.hk. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
- ^ "Tracking human cases of H5N6 bird flu". BNO News. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
- ^ a b "WHO calls for surveillance to explain rise in human cases of H5N6 bird flu". BNO News. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
- ^ Avian Influenza Weekly Update Number 811
- ^ "CDC Update on A(H5N6) Bird Flu: How is the U.S. CDC Monitoring A(H5N6) Infections and Contributing to Global Pandemic Preparedness?". CDC. November 1, 2021. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ^ "Human infections with avian influenza A(H5N6) virus – China". World Health Organization. Archived from the original on December 8, 2016. Retrieved 2016-12-31.
- ^ "China's Xinjiang region culls 55,000 chickens after bird flu outbreak". news.trust.org. Archived from the original on 2018-05-20. Retrieved 2016-12-31.
- ^ "Hong Kong reports H5N6 avian influenza in bird droppings - Outbreak News Today". Outbreak News Today. 2016-12-05. Retrieved 2016-12-31.
- ^ "South Korea raises bird flu alert to highest level for first time". Reuters. 2016-12-15. Retrieved 2016-12-31.
- ^ "CNN Philippines". Facebook.
- ^ "China reports first H5N6 bird flu in Sichuan poultry farm: Ministry | Physician's Weekly". www.physiciansweekly.com. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
- ^ Cigaral, Ian Nicolas. "Philippines reports cases of H5N6 bird flu in Nueva Ecija quails". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
- ^ "COMMUNICABLE DISEASE THREATS REPORT, Week 14, 4-10 April 2021" (PDF). European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ "China reports another death from H5N6 bird flu". BNO News. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
- ^ "China Reports Two H5N6 Bird Flu Deaths - October 1, 2021". The Daily News Brief. 2021-10-01. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
- ^ Patton, Dominique (2021-10-26). "Rise in human bird flu cases in China shows risk of fast-changing variants: experts". Reuters. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
- ^ "H5N6 avian influenza: China reports 1st case of 2022". Outbreak News Today. January 8, 2022. Archived from the original on 14 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ^ "China reports 5 new human cases of H5N6 bird flu". BNO News. January 14, 2022. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ^ a b Ashkenaz, Antony (11 April 2022). "China bird flu outbreak: 19 human cases of H5N6 avian influenza linked to wet market". Express.co.uk.
- ^ "China reports human H5N6 avian influenza case in Sichuan Province". Outbreak News Today. April 21, 2022. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
- ^ "H5N6 avian flu sickens Chinese woman | CIDRAP". www.cidrap.umn.edu. 2023-08-23. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
- ^ "China reports fatal H5N6 avian flu case | CIDRAP". www.cidrap.umn.edu. 2023-09-27. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
- ^ "Woman In China Dies 3 Weeks After Catching Rare H5N6 Strain of Bird Flu".
- ^ "H5N6 avian flu hospitalizes woman in China".
- ^ Schnirring, Lisa (20 June 2024). "China reports another fatal H5N6 avian flu case". Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.
- ^ Schnirring, Lisa (28 May 2024). "China reports another fatal H5N6 avian flu case". Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.