Human surveillance and phylogeny of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N8) during an outbreak in poultry in South Africa, 2017.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In June 2017, an outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N8) was detected in commercial poultry farms in South Africa, which rapidly spread to all nine South African provinces.

Objectives

We conducted active surveillance for the transmission of influenza A(H5N8) to humans working with infected birds during the South African outbreak.

Methods

Influenza A(H5N8)-positive veterinary specimens were used to evaluate the ability of real-time PCR-based assays to detect contemporary avian influenza A(H5N8) strains. Whole genome sequences were generated from these specimens by next-generation sequencing for phylogenetic characterization and screening for mammalian-adaptive mutations.

Results

Human respiratory samples from 74 individuals meeting o

SUBMITTER: Valley-Omar Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7182598 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature