Also, Taiwan notes new H5N6 outbreaks, and China detects more highly pathogenic H7N9 in poultry markets.
H5N8 has now been confirmed in 40 countries, and South Korean scientists shared genetic findings from a recent H5N6 isolate.
So far there's no sign that H7N9 epidemiology is changing for humans, but for poultry, the virus has become more deadly.
Egypt today reported two human H5N1 avian flu cases, one of them fatal, according to notifications from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Few details were reported. One of the cases occurred in Minya governorate and was observed on Feb 1. The fatal case was reported from Faiyum governorate and was observed on Feb 5. Both governorates are in upper Egypt.
France reports 68 new H5N8 poultry outbreaks, and Hungary confirms 455,000 affected birds.
China's premier urges officials in affected areas to shutter live-poultry markets.
Spain reported its first highly pathogenic H5N8 avian flu outbreaks in poultry, following two earlier detections in wild birds, and Egypt noted poultry outbreaks involving both the H5N8 and H5N1 strains, according to the latest reports from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Officials note new H5N1 outbreaks in India, Laos, Niger, and Vietnam.
China today reported two more H7N9 avian influenza infections in humans, and the country's top health officials have announced an update to treatment recommendations for patients.
The latest cases are both from Sichuan province in southwestern China, according to a state news agency report translated and posted by FluTrackers, an infectious disease news message board.
For the first time in China, the high-path strain of H7N9 has been detected in live market poultry.
