H5N6 Avian Influenza

Since the first human infection in 2014 in Sichuan Province, China, H5N6 avian influenza has emerged as a significant zoonotic threat, with a case fatality rate of approximately 55%-75%. While no sustained human-to-human transmission has been documented, mutations enhancing human receptor binding have been identified. China’s live poultry markets and migratory bird flyways, particularly in Sichuan, remain critical in the virus’s ecology and evolution. Continued surveillance, early antiviral use, and improved diagnostics are essential to mitigate the pandemic risk posed by H5N6 and its evolving genotypes.