Avian Influenza A(H5N6) Case Confirmed in Mainland China

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China's Centre for Health Protection (CHP) announced today it is monitoring a human case of avian influenza A(H5N6) in the Mainland. The patient is in serious condition.

The case involves a 48-year-old woman living in Liuzhou, Guangxi, China, who had contact with live domestic poultry before the onset of symptoms. She is in serious condition, says the CHP.

Avian influenza (Bird Flu) is the disease caused by influenza type A viruses in animals. These viruses occur naturally among birds and domestic poultry.

"All novel influenza A infections, including H5N6, are notifiable infectious diseases in Hong Kong," a spokesman for the CHP said.

Travelers to China's 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.

Travelers should also avoid purchasing live or freshly slaughtered poultry and avoid touching poultry/birds or their droppings. Furthermore, they should strictly observe personal and hand hygiene when visiting any place with live poultry.

Humans do not normally contract Avian flu viruses; however, human infections have occurred and are very lethal. From 2014 to date, China Mainland health authorities have reported 42 human cases of avian influenza A(H5N6).

The European Medicines Agency conditionally Authorized AstraZeneca's Pandemic influenza vaccine (P/LAIV) H5N1 in May 2017 to prevent influenza in an officially declared pandemic in children and adolescents.

The annual 'flu shot' does not offer protection against Avian influenza viruses, says the U.S. FDA.