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Volume 28, Number 7—July 2022
Research

Epidemiologic, Clinical, and Genetic Characteristics of Human Infections with Influenza A(H5N6) Viruses, China

Wenfei Zhu1, Xiyan Li1, Jie Dong1, Hong Bo, Jia Liu, Jiaying Yang, Ye Zhang, Hejiang Wei, Weijuan Huang, Xiang Zhao, Tao Chen, Jing Yang, Zi Li, Xiaoxu Zeng, Chao Li, Jing Tang, Li Xin, Rongbao Gao, Liqi Liu, Min Tan, Yuelong Shu, Lei YangComments to Author , and Dayan WangComments to Author 
Author affiliations: National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China (W. Zhu, X. Li, J. Dong, H. Bo, J. Liu, Jiaying Yang, Y. Zhang, H. Wei, W. Huang, X. Zhao, T. Chen, Jing Yang, Z. Li, X. Zeng, C. Li. J. Tang, L. Xin, R. Gao, L. Liu, M. Tan, Y. Shu, L. Yang, D. Wang); Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing (C. Li); World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, Beijing (W. Zhu, X. Li, J. Dong, H. Bo, J. Liu, Jiaying Yang, Y. Zhang, H. Wei, W. Huang, X. Zhao, T. Chen, Jing Yang, Z. Li, X. Zeng, J. Tang, L. Xin, R. Gao, L. Liu, M. Tan, Y. Shu, L. Yang, D. Wang); Key Laboratory for Medical Virology, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Beijing (W. Zhu, X. Li, J. Dong, H. Bo, J. Liu, Jiaying Yang, Y. Zhang, H. Wei, W. Huang, X. Zhao, T. Chen, Jing Yang, Z. Li, X. Zeng, J. Tang, L. Xin, R. Gao, L. Liu, M. Tan, Y. Shu, L. Yang, D. Wang); Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China (Jiaying Yang, Y. Shu)

Main Article

Table 1

Characteristics of 65 laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N6) virus, China*

Characteristic No. case-patients
Median age (IQR)
 51 (36–57)
Age group, y
0–17 8 (12.3)
18–59 45 (69.2)
>60
 12 (18.5)
Sex
M 33 (50.8)
F
 32 (49.2)
Residence
Urban 34 (52.3)
Rural
 31 (47.7)
Fatalities (CFR)
 36 (55.4)
Poultry exposure
Any exposure to poultry 61 (93.8)
Visited live poultry market 38 (62.3)
Exposure to backyard poultry 28 (45.9)
Exposure to sick or dead poultry 23 (37.7)
Processed poultry 28 (45.9)
A(H5) positive in related bird or 
avian-related environment
 55 (90.2)
Comorbidities†
 31 (47.7)
Disease severity
Mild 4 (6.2)
Severe‡
 61 (93.8)
Treatment
Oseltamivir 39 (60.0)
Mechanical ventilation 41 (63.1)
ECMO 14 (21.5)
Admission to ICU
 51 (78.5)
Complications§
Yes 56 (86.2)
No 7 (10.8)
Unknown 2 (3.1)

*Values are no. (%) except as indicated. CFR, case-fatality rate; ECMO, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; ICU, intensive care unit; IQR, interquartile range. †Only comorbidities associated with a high risk for influenza complications (32,33) were counted here, including chronic respiratory disease, asthma, chronic cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic liver disease, chronic kidney disease, immunosuppressed status, and neuromuscular disorders. ‡Severe symptoms were defined according to the Diagnosis and Treatment Plan for Influenza issued by the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2020-11/05/5557639/files/74899af960ff4f228e280d08b60d2af1.pdf). §Complications included secondary bacterial pneumonia, bronchitis, exacerbations of underlying respiratory conditions, laryngotracheobronchitis; and other less common complications may occur (33).

Main Article

1These authors contributed equally to this article.

Page created: April 16, 2022
Page updated: June 18, 2022
Page reviewed: June 18, 2022
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