In 1996, A/goose/Guangdong/1/1996 (H5N1), the precursor of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) was identified in farmed geese in southern China.  At least two of the three pandemics in the last century, including 1957 and 1968 influenza pandemics, originated from this area.

These H5N1 HPAIVs had spread across Asia, Europe and Africa and posed a continuous threat to both animal and human health.