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A man in China has been hospitalized with the H5N6 strain of bird flu, one of several life-threatening viruses that have been found in poultry flocks over the years, reports said Thursday.
The 55-year-old tested positive for the virus on July 6 after having a fever and was hospitalized in Sichuan, located in the southwest of the country, The New York Times reported, citing the channel of ‘State China Global Television. Network.
The case is one of 33 cases seen in the Western Pacific Region since 2014, according to data from the World Health Organization, and state media, citing anonymous experts, said the latest infection did not poses no risk of large-scale human-to-human transmission, the outlet reported.
In a brief report in English, the broadcaster said local authorities “activated an emergency response and sterilized the area” after learning of the infection.
The show did not explain how the man came into contact with the virus, whether he worked with poultry, or whether any members of his family or close contacts had been quarantined or infected.
The first human infection of the H5N6 strain was initially detected in Laos in 2014 and around 60% of cases so far have resulted in death, according to the WHO.
The latest case was reported in China in May.
“Whenever avian influenza viruses circulate in poultry, there is a risk of sporadic infection and small clusters of human cases due to exposure to infected poultry or contaminated environments. Therefore, sporadic human cases are not unexpected, ”said WHO in its latest weekly avian influenza update on July 9.
“With the continued incidence of avian influenza due to existing and new influenza A (H5) viruses in poultry, it is necessary to remain vigilant in the animal and public health sectors. Raising community awareness of potential dangers to human health is essential to prevent infection in humans. Surveillance should be continued to detect human cases and early changes in the transmissibility and infectivity of viruses. ”
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