First detection of highly pathogenic H5N6 avian influenza virus on the African continent

ABSTRACTSince 2013, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) subtype H5N6 (clade 2.3.4.4) has been reported in wild birds and poultry in Asia as well as in other parts of the globe. In Africa, information on the presence of this virus subtype is lacking. This study reports the first detection of a HPAI (H5N6) virus (clade 2.3.4.4b) in a duck from a live bird market in Nigeria, whose genome is closely related to the European 2017–2018 H5N6 viruses, indricating a recent virus introduction into the African continent.