Six Cases of Bird Flu Reported in China, With One Fatality

Local officials in China have reported six new cases of H5N6 avian flu — commonly referred to as bird flu — in the country, though they say the virus is not currently transmittable through human-to-human contact.

Half of the six cases were reported in the southern province of Guangdong, where three individuals fell ill after coming into contact with live poultry or visiting markets where it was sold, reports the South China Morning Post. One of the individuals, a 26-year-old woman from Shenzhen, died from the virus on Dec. 30, four days after her symptoms first appeared.

The H5N6 strain of the virus, which attacks lung tissue, is likely deadlier than strains detected in the past, the Guangzhou Daily reported.

A public-health spokesperson in Guangdong advised the public to abstain from buying fresh poultry, though the Post reports that some wet markets in the province continue to sell it under the table.

[SCMP]