Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of a patient infected with H5N6 avian influenza A virus

•We reported the case of the first patient worldwide to survive an infection with influenza A (H5N6) virus.•The patient’s survival can be attributed to his poor immune function and double doses of Tamiflu treatment.•The patient was most likely infected via the contaminated environment of a wet market.•The avian influenza H5N6 virus can cause widespread infection in humans without any warning signs.