Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Clade 2.3.2.1a in Traveler Returning to Australia from India, 2024

• DOI: 10.3201/eid3101.241210
• Publication Date: 2024-12-05T16:18:51Z
• Authors: Yi-Mo Deng; Michelle Wille; Clyde Dapat; Ruopeng Xie; Olivia Lay; Heidi Peck; Andrew J. Daley; Vijaykrishna Dhan...; Ian G. Barr
• Keywords: R; Dispatch; highly pathogenic; Medicine; viruses; avian influenza; H5N1; human; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; influenza

We report highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus clade 2.3.2.1a in a child traveler returning to Australia from India. The virus was a previously unreported reassortant consisting of clade 2.3.2.1a, 2.3.4.4b, and wild bird low pathogenicity avian influenza gene segments. These findings highlight surveillance gaps in South Asia.