China has unveiled a fresh cluster of avian flu episodes—eight newly-logged H9N2 infections strewn across four provinces, accompanied by an additional H10N3 case within Guangxi. The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) disclosed the data in its latest weekly epidemiological notice.
The span of infection onset among H9N2 patients stretches from April 1 to April 19. Among the afflicted are four juveniles from Hunan—two 5-year-old boys, a 7-year-old girl, and a 1-year-old female toddler. Guizhou added two more 1-year-old girls to the tally. Yunnan recorded one similar case, while the remaining infection was identified in a 67-year-old man dwelling in Chongqing municipality.
While the official dispatch refrained from specifying the transmission vector, historical patterns imply a strong tie to direct or ambient exposure to poultry habitats. Pediatric cases dominate the demographic spread. Though the majority of these H9N2 ailments manifest with subdued symptoms, isolated instances of acute or fatal outcomes have emerged, according to CIDRAP News.
With these newly cataloged occurrences, China’s H9N2 infection count for the year now ascends to 18.
China reports more H9N2 and H10N3 avian flu cases
— CIDRAP (@CIDRAP) May 13, 2025
China has now confirmed five H10N3 cases, which tend to be severe, over the past few years.https://t.co/szGQGBLo3k
Photo: Garrett Heath / Flickr cc pic.twitter.com/VbzJPYB8il
H10N3 Case Surfaces After Lull, Reignites Vigilance
Marking the first resurgence since December 2024, the H10N3 strain has resurfaced with a new human case. The individual, a 68-year-old female inhabitant of Guangxi province, began exhibiting symptoms on April 13. The official summary offers no illumination on the suspected origin of her exposure.
This latest addition brings the cumulative H10N3 human caseload in China to five, a number modest yet noteworthy due to the strain’s rarity. Several of these infections have escalated to critical illness, indicating a potential for severe pathology, as reported by CIDRAP News.
Conclusion
These recent developments in zoonotic influenza strains suggest an undercurrent of continued interspecies viral crossover. While most H9N2 cases appear moderate, the recurrence of H10N3, with its known capacity for virulence, merits heightened surveillance and swift epidemiological tracing.