Via Emerging Infectious Diseases: Ahead of Print -Genetic Characterization of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N6) Virus, Guangdong, China. The authors include major researchers like Malik Peiris and Zhong Nanshan. The conclusion:
There is still limited information on human disease caused by the emerging H5 lineage. Our genetic analysis suggests that the H5N6 virus isolated from the patient is originated from the avian host.
Although the genetic background of H5N6 virus isolated from the third case in Yunnan Province, China, on January 2015 is still not known, the isolates from the human cases of H5N6 infection reported to date show distant genetic diversity, indicating that viruses from both clusters may pose a threat to humans.
This rapidly evolving and globally spreading virus lineage thus provides a threat to global public health.
