Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection (CHP) has reported two new H9N2 avian flu cases from mainland China. The detections raise the H9N2 total since April to 21 cases.

One case was noted in a 2-year-old boy from Hunan Province, and the second case was in a 70-year-old woman from Jiangxi Province. Both patients experienced symptom onset at the end of September. 

21 cases in past 6 months

Thirteen of the 21 cases reported in the past 6 months have been in children under age 7 years. 

All 21 cases in 2025 have been reported from mainland China, with the most (7) reported in Hunan province. In 2024, the country reported 11 total cases.

H9N2 avian flu is known to circulate in poultry in China and other parts of Asia, and sporadic human infections have been reported, mainly in China. Infections are typically reported in children, who usually experience mild infections. Some infections, however, are severe.

Japan is seeing early and severe influenza activity this season, with health officials declaring an influenza epidemic earlier this month after viral activity has shuttered more than 100 schools. 

Currently Okinawa and Tokyo are experiencing especially high infection rates.

Japan typically reports increased influenza activity at the end of November; the current flu season is starting about 5 weeks early. So far officials have no released information on which virus strains are circulating. 

As of October 10, 6,013 cases of influenza virus have been recorded, and 287 people were hospitalized for their illnesses according to Nature. More than half of those hospitalized are children under the age of 14. 

Experts warned that infections in Japan could seed outbreaks in Asia and Europe in the coming weeks.  

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) has spread to another elk-hunting area in Wyoming, the state's game and fish department reports.

An adult female elk in Elk Hunt Area 116 tested positive for the fatal neurologic infection, marking the area's first case. The hunting area, located in the Casper region in the northeast corner of Wyoming, 116 borders Elk Hunt Areas 117 and 129, which had detections in 2008 and 2020, respectively. 

Area 116 is part of the Black Hills Elk Herd, which includes hunting areas 115, 117, and 1, the latter of which has been CWD-positive since 2020.

Hunters asked to submit samples in affected areas

CWD, which spreads via infectious misfolded proteins called prions, affects cervids such as deer, elk, and moose. 

Continued monitoring of CWD over time is important to help Game and Fish understand the potential impacts of the disease, as well as evaluate future management actions.

"Continued monitoring of CWD over time is important to help Game and Fish understand the potential impacts of the disease, as well as evaluate future management actions," the news release said. "Hunters can assist in data collection by submitting free samples for CWD testing when hunting in priority or mandatory CWD testing areas."