The Chief Veterinary Officer for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Dr. Thomas Sit, reported to the World Organization of Animal Health (OIE) on isolation of H5N8 avian influenza from wild bird droppings in the Mai Po Nature Park. The isolation of H5N8 avian influenza was confirmed on January 13th and the report resulted from an ongoing surveillance program.

Sequencing of viruses isolated in Asia and Europe during the 2020-2021 migratory season suggests that the East Asian outbreaks of H5N8 are derived from the isolates circulating in Eastern Europe during the winter of 2019-2020 with subsequent dissemination through migration.