On August 26th, public health authorities in Ghana reported a single, spontaneous case of H9N2 avian influenza in a 5-year-old child to the World Health Organization. The May 2024 case recovered following supportive and antiviral therapy. Avian influenza H9N2 virus of low pathogenicity is endemic in poultry in the upper-east region of Ghana, although in this case, there was apparently no evident contact with chickens.
The isolated virus was characterized as an avian H9N2 strain by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention following examination and subsequent whole genome sequencing by an international reference laboratory in the U.K.
This case and the recent H5N1 event in Missouri indicate the need to follow up on cases yielding non-seasonal influenza A isolates. Both viruses with mutations to increase human susceptibility may be more widespread than currently recognized. Isolation and characterization are necessary to identify potentially epidemic strains to facilitate preemptive measures.