H6N1

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June 21, 2013

First human infection of H6N1 bird flu confirmed in Taiwan


Avian influenza is rolling out new models with amazing speed. Via Xinhua: First human infection of H6N1 bird flu confirmed in Taiwan.

Taiwan's disease control authority on Friday confirmed that the world's first human infection of H6N1 bird flu has been reported on the island, adding that the patient has already recovered.

The patient was identified as a 20-year-old woman from central Taiwan. She has not left Taiwan recently and has not had any recent contact with birds, according to the authority.

The authority said a hospital reported on May 20 that an unconfirmed type of flu virus was found in respiratory tract samples taken from the patient, who was initially diagnosed with pneumonia.

Further testing confirmed the virus to be H6N1, a low-pathogenic avian influenza virus that exists commonly in birds but has never been reported in humans, according to the authority.

Four of the 36 people the patient has had close contact with have shown flu-like symptoms, although possible H6N1 infections were ruled out by tests.

No H6N1 virus has been found in samples collected from two poultry breeding sites located close to the patient's home, the authority said, citing testing results from the island's agricultural oversight agency.

[dothedd]

CHP received notification of a human case of avian influenza A(H6N1) from Taiwan

June 21, 2013

Taiwan: Globally first human infection with avian influenza virus H6N1 detected

Domestic appear isolated from respiratory diseases H6N1 flu virus cases, the patient has been cured, the CDC urged people to make personal health management (2013-06-21)

Disease Control, Department of Health on May 20 received a notification of a hospital, a 20-year-old woman living in central Patients with mild pneumonia isolated from respiratory specimens of not subtyped influenza A viruses, further examination by the Board and DNA sequencing was carried H6N1 influenza virus.

After investigation of close contacts 36 cases, of which four people have flu-like symptoms, the test found no H6N1 influenza virus infection, the council will continue to strengthen monitoring.

CDC pointed out that the woman tied to a breakfast shop work, never to go abroad, but also no history of exposure to related birds, May 5 with fever, cough, headache and muscle pain and other symptoms, May 8 morning because persistent fever and shortness of hospitalization and medical treatment, the X-ray examination showed a slight pneumonia, influenza antivirals in the administration of the symptoms improved, was discharged on May 11, has been recovered.

May 7 were collected from patients' respiratory specimens isolated H6N1 virus, May 24 patient serum specimens H6N1 antibody HI titer of 1:20,6 … serum was collected from 1:40. In addition to the acquisition of the council respiratory specimens tested for influenza viruses, but also against the viruses such as respiratory infections common adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, coronavirus, enterovirus and rhinovirus and other 23 kinds of testing, with negative results.

Agricultural authorities also grouped cases within 1 km around the house poultry farm poultry collected two specimens tested, the results were not detected H6N1 avian influenza virus.

The council since 1999, in addition to the statutory infectious diseases (influenza complications) patient monitoring tests, but also to the community regularly hospitalized influenza patients and patients with unexplained pneumonia collected specimens for influenza virus testing, systematic monitor the activities of domestic influenza virus and the clinical situation the actual situation.

The number of samples tested annually about 1 to 20,000, has accumulated more than 250,000, identification and separation of about 86,000 strains of influenza virus, in addition to this (102) inspection of an imported H7N9 avian influenza viruses, never detected from the human body, including H6N1 physical examination, including other non-H1, H3 subtype influenza A viruses.

Case by invited agricultural agencies and related medical and veterinary experts meeting to discuss, according to the existing epidemiological findings judged the case based on the performance of minor sporadic cases of pneumonia, no evidence of human to human transmission phenomenon, health and agricultural authorities will also continue to strengthen humans, birds and environment monitoring.

H6N1 is widespread among poultry low pathogenic avian influenza virus has not been found in human cases of infection worldwide. The patients are separated by a viral gene sequences are shown in the case of avian origin, and the local poultry H6N1 strain of the virus most closely on Tamiflu and other antiviral drugs Relenza sensitive.

CDC appealed against avian influenza virus infection, livestock related practitioners should be prepared to personal protective measures, the public should avoid unnecessary contact with livestock animals, and should wash their hands, eat well cooked poultry meat and eggs class, in order to reduce the risk of infection. In addition, flu-like symptoms or conjunctivitis, etc., should wear masks for medical treatment as soon as possible, and take the initiative to inform physicians livestock work history and history of exposure to birds.

[dothedd]

H6N1, Taiwan: Government calls for enhanced birdflu surveillance Ifeng, June 27 2013

Huaxia Jingwei Website June 27 news: According to Taiwan media reports, the "premier" Jiang Yi Hua said today, H6N1 influenza virus commonly found in poultry, the requested "COA" and "DH" Strengthening animal and human disease surveillance and control work.

According to reports, "Disease Control, Department of Health," on May 20 received a notification of a hospital, a 20-year-old woman living in central pneumonia in patients with mild respiratory specimens isolated not subtyped influenza A viruses, after further testing and gene sequencing of H6N1 flu virus.

Jiang Yi Hua said that Taiwan found that the world's first human cases of H6N1 influenza in the "Department of Health" and "COA" for pathogen identification and outbreak investigations, has the World Health Organization (WHO) Bulletin, the appropriateness of the current cases after treatment have recovered healed, also found no other cases.

[dothedd]

Establishment of Influenza A Virus (H6N1) in Minor Poultry Species in Southern China

ABSTRACT - 28 May 2007

An H6N1 virus, A/teal/Hong Kong/W312/97 (W312), was isolated during the “bird flu” incident in Hong Kong in 1997. Genetic analysis suggested that this virus might be the progenitor of the A/Hong Kong/156/97 (HK/97) H5N1 virus, as seven of eight gene segments of those viruses had a common source. Continuing surveillance in Hong Kong showed that a W312-like virus was prevalent in quail and pheasants in 1999; however, the further development of H6N1 viruses has not been investigated since 2001. Here we report influenza virus surveillance data collected in southern China from 2000 to 2005 that show that H6N1 viruses have become established and endemic in minor poultry species and replicate mainly in the respiratory tract. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that all H6N1 isolates had W312-like hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes. However, reassortment of internal genes between different subtype virus lineages, including H5N1, H9N2, and other avian viruses, generated multiple novel H6N1 genotypes in different types of poultry. These novel H6N1/N2 viruses are double, triple, or even quadruple reassortants. Reassortment between a W312-like H6N1 virus and an A/quail/Hong Kong/G1/97 (HK/97)-like H9N2 virus simultaneously generated novel H6N2 subtype viruses that were persistent in poultry. Molecular analyses suggest that W312-like viruses may not be the precursors of HK/97 virus but reassortants from an HK/97-like virus and another unidentified H6 subtype virus. These results provide further evidence of the pivotal role of the live poultry market system of southern China in generating increased genetic diversity in influenza viruses in this region.

PROGRESSION:


of an H6N1 Avian Influenza Virus Isolated from Guangxi Pockmark Ducks
J. Virol. December 2012 86:24 13868-13869
AbstractFull TextPDF
Complete Genomic Sequence of a Novel Natural Recombinant H6N2 Influenza Virus from Chickens in Guangdong, Southern China
J. Virol. July 2012 86:14 7717-7718
AbstractFull TextPDF
Establishment and Lineage Replacement of H6 Influenza Viruses in Domestic Ducks in Southern China
J. Virol. June 2012 86:11 6075-6083
AbstractFull TextPDF
The Receptor Binding Specificity of the Live Attenuated Influenza H2 and H6 Vaccine Viruses Contributes to Vaccine Immunogenicity and Protection in Ferrets
J. Virol. March 2012 86:5 2780-2786
AbstractFull TextPDF
Insertion of a Multibasic Cleavage Motif into the Hemagglutinin of a Low-Pathogenic Avian Influenza H6N1 Virus Induces a Highly Pathogenic Phenotype
J. Virol. August 2010 84:16 7953-7960
AbstractFull TextPDF
Evolution of highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza viruses and the emergence of dominant variants
J. Gen. Virol. August 2010 91:8 1984-1995
AbstractFull TextPDF
Establishment of an H6N2 Influenza Virus Lineage in Domestic Ducks in Southern China
J. Virol. July 2010 84:14 6978-6986
AbstractFull TextPDF
Phylogeny and genotyping of recent avian low-pathogenic H5 subtype influenza viruses from French ducks
J. Gen. Virol. April 2010 91:4 960-970
AbstractFull TextPDF
Genetic relatedness of H6 subtype avian influenza viruses isolated from wild birds and domestic ducks in Korea and their pathogenicity in animals
J. Gen. Virol. January 2010 91:1 208-219
AbstractFull TextPDF
Evaluation of Live Attenuated Influenza A Virus H6 Vaccines in Mice and Ferrets
J. Virol. January 2009 83:1 65-72
AbstractFull TextPDF
Avian Influenza H6 Viruses Productively Infect and Cause Illness in Mice and Ferrets
J. Virol. November 2008 82:21 10854-10863
AbstractFull TextPDF
Identification of the Progenitors of Indonesian and Vietnamese Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Viruses from Southern China
J. Virol. April 2008 82:7 3405-3414
AbstractFull TextPDF

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1st case: New bird flu virus in humans
AP | Nov 15, 2013, 06.52 AM IST

LONDON: Astrain of bird flu that scientists thought could not infect people has shown up in a Taiwanese woman, a nasty surprise that shows scientists must do more to spot worrisome flu strains before they ignite a global outbreak , doctors say. On a more hopeful front, two pharmaceuticals separately reported encouraging results from human tests of a possible vaccine against a different type of bird flu that has been spreading in China since first being identified last spring, which is feared to have pandemic potential.

The woman, 20, was hospitalized in May with a lung infection. After being treated with Tamiflu and antibiotics, she was released. One of her throat swabs was sent to the Taiwan Centres for Disease Control. Experts there identified it as the H6N1 bird flu, widely circulating in chickens on the island . The patient, who was not identified , worked in a deli and had no known connection to live birds. Investigators couldn't figure out how she was infected. But they noted several of her close family and friends also developed flu-like symptoms after spending time with her, though none tested positive for H6N1. The research was published online on Thursday in the journal Lancet Respiratory Medicine.

Since the H5N1 bird flu strain first broke out in southern China in 1996, public health officials have been nervously monitoring its progress — it has so far killed more than 600 people, mostly in Asia. Several other bird flu strains, including H7N9, which was first identified in China in April, have also caused concern but none has so far mutated into a form able to spread easily among people.

"The question again is what would it take for these viruses to evolve into a pandemic strain?" wrote Marion Koopmans, a virologist at the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment in the Netherlands, in a commentary accompanying the new report. She said it was worrying that scientists had no early warning signals that such new bird flus could be a problem until humans fell ill. Scientists often monitor birds to see which viruses are killing them, in an attempt to guess which flu strains might be troublesome for humans — but neither H6N1 nor H7N9 make birds very sick.

Koopmans called for increased surveillance of animal flu viruses and more research into predicting which viruses might cause a global crisis. "We can surely do better than to have human beings as sentinels," she wrote. The vaccine news is on the H7N9 bird flu that has infected at least 137 people and killed at least 45 since last spring. Scientists from Novavax Inc., a Gaithersburg, Maryland, company, say tests on 284 people suggest that after two shots of the vaccine, most made antibodies at a level that usually confers protection.