Following human H5N6 avian influenza cases reported in Shenzhen City and Zhaoqing City since late December, early January, including a fatality, the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province has reported a 3rd case in the past couple weeks involving a 25-year-old Longgang, Shenzhen man.
The patient is currently hospitalized in serious condition.
From 2014 to date, a total of seven human cases of avian influenza A(H5N6) have been reported by the Mainland health authorities.
Avian influenza is caused by those influenza viruses that mainly affect birds and poultry, such as chickens or ducks. Clinical presentation of avian influenza in humans includes eye infection (conjunctivitis), flu-like symptoms (e.g. fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches) or severe respiratory illness (e.g. chest infection). The incubation period ranges from 7 to 10 days. The more virulent forms can result in respiratory failure, multi-organ failure and even death. People mainly become infected with avian influenza through close contact with infected birds and poultry (live or dead) or their droppings. Human-to-human transmission is inefficient.
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