By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

Hong Kong health officials report monitoring a human case of avian influenza A(H5N6) in Sichuan Province on the Mainland. The case involves a 55-year-old man living in Bazhong City in Sichuan Province. He developed symptoms on June 30 and was admitted to hospital for treatment on July 4. The patient is in critical condition. The patient had contact with live domestic poultry before the onset of symptoms.

Image/dinky123uk

This is the 32nd human case of avian influenza A(H5N6) reported by the Mainland health authorities since 2014.

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 virus through contact with infected birds and poultry (live or dead) or their droppings, or contact with contaminated environments (such as wet markets and live poultry markets). Human-to-human transmission is inefficient.

People in close contact with poultry are more susceptible to contracting avian influenza. The elderly, children and people with chronic illness have a higher risk of developing complications such as bronchitis and chest infection.