The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (August 19) closely monitoring a human case of avian influenza A(H5N6) in the Mainland, and again urged the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel.

The case involves a 54-year-old man living in Chenzhou City of Hunan Province, who is the husband of the case reported on August 10. He had cooked and eaten a duck purchased from a live poultry market together with his wife before the onset of symptoms. He developed symptoms on August 2 and was admitted for treatment on the same day. The patient is in stable condition.

From 2014 to date, 39 human cases of avian influenza A(H5N6) have been reported by Mainland health authorities.