New H5N6 case reported in central China province

CHANGSHA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- A human case of avian influenza H5N6 was confirmed in central China's Hunan Province on Saturday, the provincial center for disease control and prevention announced Tuesday.

The male patient, 50, is a native of Guzhang County in the Tujia-Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Xiangxi. He first developed symptoms when he was working in Jishou City of the prefecture.

He is in critical condition in hospital, according to the center.

The world's first human H5N6 infection was reported in May 2014 in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

There is currently no evidence suggesting human-to-human transmission.