Bird Flu Terrifies China: Infection Detected and Concerns Over More Contagious Strain

Health authorities in Guangdong province, southern China, reported on Saturday a human infection with the bird flu strain (H5N6) in the city of Huizhou. Health experts expressed concerns about a "mutation that could be more contagious to humans," according to Reuters. Authorities advised citizens to exercise caution and take preventive measures such as avoiding live poultry markets. The health commission stated that experts believe the risk of transmission is low at this stage. The commission indicated that the infected man is 68 years old and is receiving treatment in the hospital. The number of bird flu H5N6 infections in China has surged this year, raising concerns among some experts about previously circulated strains that appear to have mutated and could be more transmissible to humans. Several individuals infected with the H5N6 strain have died in China this year, according to local government data and reports from the World Health Organization.