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Via the World Health Organization’s Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) website, details on the international team of experts who have been invited by the Chinese government to assist in the epidemiological investigation into their H7N9 avian flu outbreak.
First stop, the announcement of their arrival from the WHO WPRO front page:
Avian influenza A(H7N9): international team in China
MANILA, 19 April 2013 – An international team of experts arrived in China yesterday at the invitation of the government to begin visiting areas affected by avian influenza A(H7N9) and to recommend ways to prevent and control the disease. Led by WHO and the China National Health and Family Planning Commission, the team is expected to visit laboratories, hospitals and markets, among other places. China yesterday informed WHO of five new human infections, bringing the total to 87, with 17 deaths. So far, there is no evidence of ongoing human-to-human transmission. People are advised to practice good hygiene, including frequent hand washing, and to avoid high-risk environments, such as live animal markets or surfaces that might contain animal droppings.
Next, we get more details this news release from the WHO.
China and WHO lead international team on H7N9
Beijing, 19 April 2013 - At the invitation of the China National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), the World Health Organization (WHO) has convened a team of experts who will visit areas affected by H7N9 in China in order to provide recommendations on the prevention and control of the disease.
The team, which is jointly led by NHFPC and WHO, is comprised of international and Chinese experts in epidemiology, laboratories, and clinical management, and other areas. They are expected to visit laboratories, hospitals, clinics, markets, and affected areas in Shanghai and Beijing.
WHO has been working closely with Chinese authorities and international public health community since it was informed of the first cases of H7N9 on 31 March. Although the disease does not appear to spread easily between people, a new flu virus is always of concern because of the nature of the disease and its ability to change.
At all three levels of the organization – from country office in Beijing, regional office in Manila and headquarters in Geneva – WHO has been working with other countries and experts in the scientific community who are closely following the situation.
The mission is an opportunity to share information both ways: for international experts to learn about the response on the ground, and for China to have access to the world's top experts on influenza.
The preliminary results will be provided to NHFPC on 24 April.
