The infected sea elephants were found in an outbreak area where dead sea lions were also found.
The detections follow an outbreak in seabirds in the same area and are the first on the West Coast.
Flu remained at low levels overall, but with elevated activity in some parts of Asia and Central America.
As Bangladesh's dengue outbreak spreads outside the capital, Nigeria battles another diphtheria wave and Uruguay reports its first H5 detection in a sea lion.
If the infection is confirmed as caused by the H9N2 strain, it will be China's first since late June.
New York City dermatologists have noted severe fungal infections, and Argentina reports H5 avian flu in sea lions.
Interest in getting the newly approved RSV vaccine varies by factors such as age and underlying health status, according to a survey of older US adults.
The case involves a 27-year-old woman from Sichuan province, marking China's fifth H5N6 case of the year.
Virologists report what appears to be a second-generation BA.2 lineage Omicron virus with many spike protein mutations.
For the first time, Argentina confirms H5 avian flu in mammals; also, Russia reports H5N1 at a large poultry farm.
