Wednesday, January 11, 2017

FAO Interim Update On H7N9











#12,109


The FAO generally updates their H7N9 page about once a month during the winter, and less often during the summer.  Their last update was on January 4th, at which time only 23 cases had been reported during this 5th epidemic season - and at that time their next scheduled update was set for February 1st.

The news that, `Since the last update (4 January 2017), 106 new human cases have been reported in Jiangsu (52), Zhejiang (21), Guangdong (15), Anhui (6), Jiangxi (5), Shandong (2), Fujian (2), Hunan (1), Guizhou (1), and Shanghai (1).' has resulted in the FAO posting an interim update today.

Given the fluidity of the situation, today's update has dispensed with their standard practice of putting their `next update' date in the header.   I've only included some highlights, follow the link below for this data (and graphic) rich update.

H7N9 situation update

10 January 2017, 17:00 hours; Rome

Overview

Situation: Influenza A(H7N9) virus with pandemic potential.
Country: China; three human cases originated in China and were reported in Malaysia (1) and Canada (2).
Number of human cases: 931 confirmed; 355 deaths (since February 2013)
Provinces/municipalities: Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin municipalities; Anhui; Fujian; Guangdong; Hubei and Liaoning provinces; Henan; Hunan; Jiangsu; Jiangxi; Shandong; Zhejiang; Guangxi; Guizhou; Jilin; Qinghai; Hubei; Taiwan Province of China; Hong Kong SAR; Macao SAR, Ningxia Hui and Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Regions; Sabah (Malaysia); British Columbia (Canada).
Animal/environmental findings: over 2,000 virological samples from the environment, chickens, pigeons, ducks and a tree sparrow tested positive; positives mainly from live bird markets, vendors and some commercial or breeding farms.
FAO actions: liaise with China and partners, monitor situation, monitor virus evolution, conduct market chain analysis, risk assessment, surveillance guidance and communication.


 Situation update

Animals

  • 9 January, Jiangsu: the province reported that some of the local poultry retail markets contamination rate was high in December, as 15.79% of environmental specimen tested positive for H7 with the majority already confirmed as H7N9 [reference].
  • 9 January, Guangdong: Guangzhou City decided to implement a monthly 3-day closure of LBMs (16-18 of each month) from January to March 2017 in the city's poultry wholesale markets and farmers markets’ poultry trading area [reference].
  • 9 January, Guangdong: Huizhou City disease control department reported that several farmers markets were found to be positive for H7N9 [reference].
  • 6 January, Guangdong: Zhongshan City closed all LBMs from 8 to 21 January  [reference].
  • 5 January, Zhejiang: Wencheng County suspended all live poultry trade from 3 January until 2 February [reference].
  • 4 January, Anhui: Wuhu City suspended all live poultry trade until further notice [reference].
  • 3 January, Shanghai: from 28 January until 30 April, Shanghai will implement the seasonal suspension of live poultry trade [reference].
  • 28-30 December 2016, Jiangsu: Changzhou City, Wuxi City and Jiangyin City suspended all live poultry trade until further notice [reference 1, reference 2, reference 3].


Humans

  • Since the last update (4 January 2017), 106 new human cases have been reported in Jiangsu (52), Zhejiang (21), Guangdong (15), Anhui (6), Jiangxi (5), Shandong (2), Fujian (2), Hunan (1), Guizhou (1), and Shanghai (1).
  • For detailed information on human cases, please refer to WHO's Disease Outbreak News.