Public Health England (PHE) has issued advice for clinicians and health professionals in relation to influenza A(H5N6), as the number of confirmed human cases in China reaches 19.
PHE says clinicians should retain a high level of suspicion of influenza A(H5N6) when managing patients with suspected influenza or confirmed Influenza A (unsubtyped) or confirmed influenza A (unsubtypable as seasonal H3 or H1N1 pdm09) along with one of the following:
- a history of travel to China or one of the affected areas and contact with avian species in the 10 days before symptom onset
- a history of travel to China or one of the affected areas and contact with a confirmed human case of influenza A(H5N6) or a human case of severe unexplained respiratory illness resulting in death, in the last 10 days before symptom onset
- any history of exposure to a confirmed H5N6 incident in avian species.
Clinicians should also remember to consider testing for influenza A(H5N1) and influenza A(H7N9) in patients with an appropriate similar travel history, it is advised.
The latest H5N6 risk assessment report, published on April 17, says the risk for influenza A(H5N6) infection to UK residents within the UK is very low. However, until further information is available, PHE recommends a precautionary approach to managing people exposed during incidents, which includes the use of appropriate personal protective equipment, antiviral prophylaxis where indicated, and active public health follow-up.
