From 18 to 24 September 2026, two new cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H9N2) virus were reported to WHO in the Western Pacific Region, both from China. Both cases were 1-year-old females, one from Henan Province, with symptom onset on 30 August 2026, and one from Guangdong Province, with symptom onset on 7 September 2026. The Henan case reported direct exposure to poultry, while the Guangdong case had potential exposure related to a live poultry market visit. Neither case received antiviral treatment or required hospitalization, and both had fully recovered at the time of reporting.

Since 2015, a total of 183 cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H9N2), including two deaths (both with underlying conditions), have been reported to WHO in the Western Pacific Region. Of these, 180 were reported from China, two were from Cambodia, and one was from Viet Nam.

Most human infections with avian influenza A(H9N2) have been associated with exposure to infected poultry or contaminated poultry environments, and the majority of cases have been mild. Sporadic human infections continue to be expected in areas where H9N2 viruses circulate in poultry populations. Current evidence indicates that H9N2 viruses have not acquired the ability for sustained human-to-human transmission, and the risk of further community-level spread remains low.