Extensive surveillance for avian influenza A(H5N6) virus in Southern China

Introduction Since the emergence of avian influenza A(H7N9) virus in 2013, extensive surveillances have been established to monitor the human infection and environmental contamination with avian influenza virus in southern China. At the end of 2015, human infection with influenza A(H5N6) virus was identified in Shenzhen for the first time through these surveillances. These surveillances include severe pneumonia screening, influenza like illness (ILI) surveillance, follow-up on close contact of the confirmed case, serological survey among poultry workers, environment surveillance in poultry market.