title: Human avian influenza A (H5N1) virus infection in China.
abstract: Highly pathogenic influenza A (H5N1) virus causes a widespread poultry deaths worldwide. The first human H5N1 infected case was reported in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China in 1997. Since then, the virus re-emerged in 2003 and continues to infect people worldwide. Currently, over 400 human infections have been reported in more than 15 countries and mortality rate is greater than 60%. H5N1 viruses still pose a potential pandemic threat in the future because of the continuing global spread and evolution. Here, we summarize the epidemiological, clinical and virological characteristics of human H5N1 infection in China monitored and identified by our national surveillance systems.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Viral Genetic and Engineering, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), Beijing, 100052, China.
authors.forename: Cuilin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Libo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xin
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Yongkun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Limei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yuelong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*