July 15, 2021 • 2:45 pm CDT
(Precision Vaccinations)
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health in Hong Kong issued a press statement on July 14, 2021, confirming it is monitoring a human case of avian influenza A(H5N6) in Sichuan Province, China. The patient had contact with live domestic poultry before the onset of symptoms.
The Zoonotic Influenza case involves a 55-year-old man who is in critical condition.
“All novel influenza A infections, including H5N6, are notifiable infectious diseases in Hong Kong,” a spokesman for the CHP commented.
From 2014 to date, there have been thirty-two human cases of avian influenza A(H5N6) reported by the Mainland China health authorities.
As of July 8, 2021, a total of 239 cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus have been reported from four countries within the WHO’s Western Pacific Region since January 2003. Of these cases, 134 were fatal, resulting in a case fatality rate (CFR) of 56%. The last case was reported from Lao PDR.
Travelers to the Mainland or other affected areas must avoid visiting wet markets, live poultry markets, or farms. In addition, they should be alert to the presence of backyard poultry when visiting relatives and friends. They should also avoid purchasing live or freshly slaughtered poultry and avoid touching poultry/birds or their droppings.
And, they should strictly observe personal and hand hygiene when visiting any places with live poultry.
Furthermore, travelers returning from affected areas should consult a doctor promptly if symptoms develop and inform the doctor of their travel history for prompt diagnosis and treatment of potential diseases.
The WHO says Zoonotic influenza refers to diseases caused by animal influenza viruses, such as Bird Flu and Swine Flu. People can be infected with influenza viruses such as avian influenza virus subtypes A(H5N1) and A(H9N2) and swine influenza virus subtypes A(H1N1) and (H3N2).
Previous Zoonotic Influenza reports are listed on this webpage.
Note: annual flu shots do not prevent Zoonotic influenza, says the U.S. CDC.—Don Ward Hackett
Exposing the Big Game 
Reblogged this on The Extinction Chronicles.