Detection and characterisation of high pathogenicity avian influenza virus (H5N1/H5N8) clade 2.3.4.4b, Hong Kong SAR, China, 2021 to 2024
We isolated three genotypes of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) clade 2.3.4.4b from wild birds infected with H5N1 (n = 12) and H5N8 (n = 1) in Hong Kong SAR 2021-2024. Viruses from two spoonbills from late 2022 were genetically related to a virus from a human in China. Four tested viruses exhibited variable virulence in mice but were susceptible to approved antivirals. No neutralising antibody was detected in 63 age-stratified human sera, suggesting potential risk should the virus adapt to humans.
Authors
- Samuel M. S. Cheng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7293-2331)
- Christopher J. Brackman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0108-5232)
- Leo L. M. Poon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9101-7953)
- Haogao Gu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7541-4262)
- Hui‐Ling Yen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2493-3609)
- Joe C T Koo
- Leo L. H. Luk
- M Peris
- Ka Man Cheng
- Thomas H. C. Sit
- Anne C. N. Tse (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6645-4369)
- Amy WY Tang
- Andrew T. L. Tsang
- Wanying Sun
- Leslie D. Sims (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2487-2519)
- Ka Tim Choy
- Adrian Wong
Institutions
- Services Australia (AU)
- HKU-Pasteur Research Pole (HK)
- University of Hong Kong (HK)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Eurosurveillance
- Published
- 2025-01-09
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.es.2025.30.1.2400839
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Influenza Virus Research Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.35
Funders
- Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee
- Innovation and Technology Commission
- Health and Medical Research Fund