There has been no report of new case of human infection of avian influenza (H5N1) since early October. The last confirmed case of human infection of avian influenza (H5N1) was reported in Thailand on October 4. As of December 17, there were a total of 44 confirmed human cases leading to 32 deaths reported in Thailand and Vietnam this year.

Hong Kong confirmed on 13 December that a dead grey heron (a migratory bird) had tested H5N1 positive. Grey heron is an abundant winter visitor to Hong Kong but not a resident species. All poultry farms within 5 kilometers where the heron was found have been checked and no unusual mortality or illness detected.

Outbreaks of avian influenza in poultry continue to be reported in Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Since October 29, there were 207 outbreaks reported with 12,000 birds dead and 180,000 birds destroyed. On November 26, Malaysian authority reported H5N1 infections in chickens in Tumpat district, State of Kelantan. Culling of susceptible birds and disinfection were undertaken in a village within a 10-km radius of the index outbreak as precautionary measures. In Vietnam, there was 1 poultry outbreak reported in Can Tho City, Mekong River Delta Region in late November. 17 birds died and 3 birds had been destroyed.

On November 25 to 26, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for a meeting in Bangkok, Thailand to bring together Health Ministers and senior health officials from 13 Asian-Pacific countries including China in an attempt to intensify cooperation to warding off the growing threat of influenza pandemic that could cause global harm. The delegates announced in a joint closing statement to work together on all aspects of avian influenza, including prompt and transparent sharing of information, research work and assuring adequate resources to take on the challenges posed by the outbreak. They also pledged to prepare contingency plans to deal with any influenza pandemic.

On December 8, WHO warned that influenza A/H5N1 has the potential to ignite the next pandemic. WHO estimated that, even in the best case scenarios of the next pandemic, 2 to 7 million people would die and tens of millions would require medical attention. Deaths could be dramatically higher if the next pandemic virus is a very virulent strain. WHO has urged all countries to develop or update their influenza pandemic preparedness plans for responding to the widespread socioeconomic disruptions that would result from having large numbers of people unwell or dying.

The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection will continue to liaise with WHO and authorities in affected countries for further information and will inform the public of any important updates.