The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (May 30) received notification from the National Health Commission on a human case of avian influenza A(H3N8) in Hunan Province, and again urged the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel.

The case involves a 5-year-old boy living in Changsha, Hunan Province, who had visited a live poultry market before onset. He developed symptoms on May 9 and had recovered.

So far, two human cases of avian influenza A(H3N8) have been reported by Mainland health authorities.

H3N8 subtype avian influenza virus originated from wild birds exhibited dual receptor-binding profiles