Another Human Infected with Bird Flu in China

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

The CHP report on August 23, 2023, says the 27-year-old woman lives in Dazhou, Sichuan, and was admitted for treatment on July 22. This report did not disclose how or where she became infected with 'bird flu' nor the outcome.

On July 23, 2023, the Alert Response Level under the Government's Preparedness Plan for an Influenza Pandemic was activated.

From 2014 to date, 86 human cases of avian influenza A(H5N6) have been reported by Chinese health authorities. A high percentage of infections (52%) lead to death.

The CHP says that travelers to the Mainland or other affected areas must avoid visiting wet markets, live poultry markets, or farms. And they should strictly observe personal and hand hygiene when visiting any place with live poultry.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health urged countries in July 2023 to work together across sectors to save as many animals as possible and to protect people. 

The current outbreaks of avian influenza ("bird flu") have caused devastation in animal populations, including poultry, wild birds, and some mammals. Although primarily affecting animals, these outbreaks pose ongoing risks to humans, says the WHO.

Since the annual flu shot is not designed to be effective against bird flu viruses, the U.S. government has invested in various avian influenza vaccines.

In June 2023, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed about 20 million H5N1 and 12 million H7N9 vaccines were available in the U.S. National Strategic Stockpile.