#12,270
Hong Kong's CHP has published their latest weekly avian influenza report - which includes an increase of 32 H7N9 cases from the Mainland over last week's tally. While still a substantial weekly number, this represents a sharp decrease over the what has been reported in recent weeks.
They now report 454 Mainland cases since November of 2016 (plus 4 in Hong Kong, 2 in Macao & 1 in Taiwan), nearly quadrupling last year's 12 month tally in only 90 days.
Whether this week's drop is due to recent poultry market closures, a post-peak winding down of cases, or delays in reporting due to the upcoming `Two Sessions' (annual meetings of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the People’s Political Consultative Congress (CPPCC)) - or some other reason entirely - isn't clear.
Once again (for cases where data is provided), males outnumber females by more than 3:1, and the skewing towards older cases continues, with only 3 (of 32) cases under the age of 30. Both have been consistent trends with this virus.
Six of 32 cases are listed as having died, 17 are listed as having `Severe Pneumonia', while one case is listed as `Mild' ; a 4 y.o. female from Fujian Province. Mild cases - while only rarely hospitalized - have been most common in children.
The full report (which runs 10 pages) is well worth downloading and reading, as it contains updates not only on avian flu activity in Mainland China, but around the world.
Avian Influenza Report
Avian Influenza Report is a weekly report produced by the Respiratory Disease Office, Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health. This report highlights global avian influenza activity in humans and birds.
VOLUME 13, NUMBER 08
Reporting period: February 19, 2017 – February 25, 2017 (Week 08)
(Published on February 28, 2017)
Summary
1. Since the previous issue of Avian Influenza Report (AIR), there were 32 new human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) reported by Mainland China health authorities in Anhui (5 cases), Guangdong (5 cases), Jiangsu (4 cases), Zhejiang (4 cases), Henan (3 cases), Hunan (2 cases), Jiangxi (2 cases), Sichuan (2 cases), Fujian (1 case), Guangxi (1 case), Guizhou (1 case), Hubei (1 case) and Shandong (1 case). Since March 2013 (as of February 27, 2017), there were a total of 1259 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) reported globally. Since November 2016 (as of February 27, 2017), 454 cases have been recorded in Mainland China.
2. Since the previous issue of AIR, there were no new human cases of avian influenza A(H5N6). Since 2014 (as of February 25, 2017), 16 human cases of avian influenza A(H5N6) were reported globally and all occurred in Mainland China. The latest case was reported on December 1, 2016.
3. There were no new human cases of avian influenza A(H5N1) reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2017. From 2011 to 2015, 32 to 145 confirmed human cases of avian influenza A(H5N1) were reported to WHO annually (according to onset date). In 2016, there have been 10 cases in Egypt.*
* Since November 21, 2012, WHO only publishes information on human cases with avian influenza A(H5N1) infection in “Influenza at human - animal interface: Monthly Risk Assessment Summary”. Only cases of human infection with H5N1 involved in events that are unusual or associated with potential increased risks will be reported in Disease Outbreak News. The latest report was published in February, 2017.
