Detection of novel reassortant H9N2 avian influenza viruses in wild birds in Jiangxi Province, China.

The five avian influenza A/H9N2 viruses isolated from wild birds in Jiangxi, China in 2015 are novel reassortants which most likely evolved from multiple lineages. They shared a high similarity with isolates from poultry, suggesting a frequent contact and continuous viral circulation at the bird-poultry interface. Given the continuous reassortment of H9N2 viruses, it will of substantial importance to implement routine surveillance in wild birds to successfully control avian influenza viruses and better the early warning system of the emerging reassortants with pandemic potential.