Timely identification of pandemic influenza threats depends on monitoring for highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses. We isolated highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N6) virus clade 2.3.4.4, genotype G1.1, in samples from a bird in southwest Russia. The virus has high homology to human H5N6 influenza strains isolated from southeast China.
Keywords: H5N6; HPAIV; Russia; avian influenza virus; clade 2.3.4.4; highly pathogenic; influenza; phylogenetic analysis; resassortment; respiratory infections; surveillance; viruses; wild birds; zoonoses.