HONG KONG – The Center for Health Protection (CHP) of the Hong Kong Department of Health recently reported five human cases of the H5N6 strain of avian influenza, which included two patients that have died.

Exposure to poultry was found in four of the five cases identified by the health department with the last case still undetermined. All the cases were reported in December 2021.

The World Health Organization (WHO) noted on Jan. 14 that none of the family members of patients developed any symptoms. There were no epidemiological links between the five existing cases.

Since 2014, 63 human cases of avian influenza A (H5N6) have been reported by Chinese health officials, according to the CHP.