Scientific Reports | Article Open
Fatal H5N6 Avian Influenza Virus Infection in a Domestic Cat and Wild Birds in China
Scientific Reports 5, Article number: 10704 doi:10.1038/srep10704 Received 26 January 2015 Accepted 27 April 2015 Published 02 June 2015 H5N6 avian influenza viruses (AIVs) may pose a potential human risk as suggested by the first documented naturally-acquired human H5N6 virus infection in 2014. Here, we report the first cases of fatal H5N6 avian influenza virus (AIV) infection in a domestic cat and wild birds. These cases followed human H5N6 infections in China and preceded an H5N6 outbreak in chickens. The extensive migration routes of wild birds may contribute to the geographic spread of H5N6 AIVs and pose a risk to humans and susceptible domesticated animals, and the H5N6 AIVs may spread from southern China to northern China by wild birds. Additional surveillance is required to better understand the threat of zoonotic transmission of AIVs.
Fatal H5N6 Avian Influenza Virus Infection in a Domestic Cat and Wild Birds in China
- Zhijun Yu1, 2, 7, n1
- Xiaolong Gao3, n1
- Tiecheng Wang1, 7, n1
- Yanbing Li3,
- Yongcheng Li4,
- Yu Xu4,
- Dong Chu4,
- Heting Sun4,
- Changjiang Wu4,
- Shengnan Li5,
- Haijun Wang5,
- Yuanguo Li6,
- Zhiping Xia1, 7,
- Weishi Lin1, 7,
- Jun Qian1, 7,
- Hualan Chen3,
- Xianzhu Xia1, 2, 7, 8,
- Yuwei Gao1, 7, 8,
Scientific Reports 5, Article number: 10704 doi:10.1038/srep10704 Received 26 January 2015 Accepted 27 April 2015 Published 02 June 2015 H5N6 avian influenza viruses (AIVs) may pose a potential human risk as suggested by the first documented naturally-acquired human H5N6 virus infection in 2014. Here, we report the first cases of fatal H5N6 avian influenza virus (AIV) infection in a domestic cat and wild birds. These cases followed human H5N6 infections in China and preceded an H5N6 outbreak in chickens. The extensive migration routes of wild birds may contribute to the geographic spread of H5N6 AIVs and pose a risk to humans and susceptible domesticated animals, and the H5N6 AIVs may spread from southern China to northern China by wild birds. Additional surveillance is required to better understand the threat of zoonotic transmission of AIVs.