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Yesterday morning we learned of a new H7N9 case in Guangdong Province, China and a few hours later Gregory Hartl – spokesperson for the World Health Organization – tweeted that a second case had been reported, but without further details.
To start our morning off, we now have the GAR (Global Alert & Response) update on these two new H7N9 cases, and I’ve also included links to a CIDRAP report last night, and a statement on the second case from Hong Kong’s CHP.
Human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus – update
Disease outbreak news
6 November 2013 - The National Health and Family Planning Commission, China notified WHO of two new laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus.
The first patient is a three-year-old boy from Guangdong Province who had contact with live poultry. He became ill on 29 October 2013, was admitted to a local hospital on 31 October 2013, and transferred to another hospital on 4 November 2013. He is currently in a stable condition.
The second patient is a 64-year-old woman from Zhejiang Province who is a farmer and had contact with live poultry. She became ill on 30 October 2013, was admitted to a local hospital on 31 October 2013, and was transferred to another hospital on 3 November. She is currently in a critical condition.
To date, WHO has been informed of a total of 139 laboratory-confirmed human cases with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus infection including 45 deaths. Currently, six patients are hospitalized and 88 have been discharged. So far, there is no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission.
The Chinese government has taken the following surveillance and control measures:
- strengthening of epidemic surveillance and analysis;
- deployment of medical treatment;
- conducting public risk communication and information dissemination;
- strengthening international cooperation and exchanges; and
- is continuing to carry out scientific research.
WHO does not advise special screening at points of entry with regard to this event, nor does it currently recommend any travel or trade restrictions.
Last night Lisa Schnirring, writing for CIDRAP NEWS, provided an excellent overview of these recent H7N9 cases, and some reactions from two very well known names in the world of virology; Richard Webby,PhD director of the WHO collaborating center for influenza studies at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and Marion Koopmans, DVM, PhD, head of virology at the Laboratory for Infectious Diseases at the RIVM in the Netherlands
Follow the link to read:
China reports two new H7N9 cases
Lisa Schnirring | Staff Writer | CIDRAP News
Nov 05, 2013
And last stop, Hong Kong’s CHP, which released a second H7N9 yesterday.
6 November 2013
Additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Zhejiang notified by NHFPC
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) has been notified by the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) of an additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Zhejiang affecting a woman aged 64.
The patient became ill on October 30 and is currently receiving treatment in hospital in critical condition. Her sample tested positive for the avian influenza A(H7N9) virus upon testing by the relevant health authority of Zhejiang and the case was subsequently confirmed.
To date, a total of 138 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been laboratory confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (49 cases), Shanghai (33 cases), Jiangsu (28 cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Fujian (five cases), Anhui (four cases), Henan (four cases), Shandong (two cases), Hunan (two cases), Beijing (two cases), Guangdong (two cases) and Hebei (one case).
A spokesman for the DH remarked that the CHP is closely monitoring the situation and maintaining close liaison with the Mainland health authorities for case details, as well as keeping a close eye on the latest advice from the World Health Organization (WHO).
"Locally, no confirmed human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been recorded so far," the spokesman stressed.
