Scientists have reported on the world’s first confirmed case of human infection with a wild avian influenza A H6N1 virus. A genetic analysis of the virus identified in a Taiwanese woman shows that this virus has evolved the ability to target a receptor called SAa-2,6 found in the human upper respiratory tract, potentially enabling adaptation of the virus to human cells.
The woman from central Taiwan presented to a hospital with flu-like symptoms and shortness of breath in May this year. She responded to treatment and has since fully recovered. The new virus, which is not deadly like the H1N1, has been discovered by Dr Ho-Sheng Wu from the Centres for Disease Control in Taiwan and Dr Marion Koopmans, Centre for Infectious Disease Control, Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
Dr Ho-Sheng Wu explained the significance of the discovery to DNA, "This H6N1 virus is not rare in poultry. It has also been found in poultry of other countries or areas, such as Hong Kong, China, US, Australia and Sweden. If you conduct the surveillance for influenza viruses in poultry in your country, this virus may have been detected in India also."
Dr Wu warned, "The H6N1 infection is through avian-to-human transmission route, so people are advised to avoid direct contact with poultry and birds or their droppings, and to practice good personal hygiene, such as washing hands frequently and consuming only thoroughly cooked poultry and eggs. These control measures will effectively reduce the risk of infection."
As they are not very pathogenic for birds, these animals may carry the virus without being ill. "Therefore, people working with wild birds should maintain proper hygiene. I do not know what the situation is with circulation or presence of H6N1 viruses in poultry in India. This is information that is not available, I think," said Dr Koopmans, whose findings have been published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.
It's early days yet. What this means, according to Dr Wu, is that "Not only must we pay attention to H5 and H7 viruses, but also other avian influenza viruses like this H6N1 virus which need to be watched out for. We have to continuously conduct surveillance to detect such unusual avian influenza viruses more quickly, and take intervention control measures more effectively and efficiently.
There's not much to be worried about yet. "I do not think we need to be very worried about this virus, as it is a single case. However, the relevance is that it shows us again that we need to keep an open mind about zoonotic infections (infections coming from animals). These viruses were not on the list yet, because this is the first published evidence," said Dr Koopmans.
