The Ministry of Agriculture said Monday an outbreak of the H5N6 avian flu has appeared at Heilongjiang province in northeastern China.

Bird, or avian, flu is a contagious disease that takes root in animals, usually birds and less commonly, pigs. The infection can be fatal to humans.

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The H5N6 strain is known to be a low-pathogenic bird flu virus and the risk of transmission from one human being to another is low. H5N6 has been diagnosed in poultry in Germany, Sweden and the United States.

Around 18,000 geese died due to the disease last month. More than 20,550 geese in a Harbin poultry farm currently are showing symptoms of the disease. Harbin is the capital of Heilongjiang province.

The outbreak has prompted the ministry to kill almost 69,000 geese. The infected area has also been sealed off and sterilized.

The geese were confirmed to have had the H5N6 virus, according to the National Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory.

Just this May, a 49-year old Sichuan man was infected by the H5N6 bird flu virus and died from the infection. Local media reported the case was the first reported human infection with the avian flu strain.

The man suffered from severe pneumonia and a throat swab revealed that he was infected by the H5N6 virus. He was apparently exposed to dead poultry, according to the Sichuan Provincial Health and Family Planning Commission.

Individuals who were in contact with the man weren't get infected with the virus and showed no symptoms of infection.

Several strains of avian flu has been observed in East Asia recently.

In March 2013, H7N9 has infected 367 individuals and killed 115 in China.

In May 2013, a young woman in China was the first recorded human to be infected with H6N1 despite not being exposed to poultry. She recovered after a few days.

A 73-year old Jiangxi native was infected with H10N8 and died. The elderly woman frequented live poultry markets.

Tagsbird flue, H5N6, Disease