Jiangsu Province - Credit Wikipedia
# 7125
With the announcement (see Beijing Confirms First H7N9 Case) that the emerging H7N9 virus has infected a child in China’s capital – some 800 miles away from Shanghai where the first cases appeared – this outbreak suddenly becomes both more widespread, and more difficult to contain.
This morning, a report out of Jiangsu Province announcing two more H7N9 infections, bringing the nation’s total to 46, with 11 fatalities.
This rather barebones report from the Jiangsu Health Department.
Published :2013-4-13
Health Department of Jiangsu Province, April 13 Bulletin, Jiangsu Province, the new confirmed cases of human infection of H7N9 avian influenza.
Patient Gumou, female, 77 years old, live in Nanjing, the former Baixia. On April 13, the provincial expert group diagnosed cases of human infection of H7N9 avian influenza confirmed cases. Currently, where a critical condition in a hospital in Nanjing. After investigation, the close contacts of the cases of a total of seven people, far showed no abnormality.
The patients named Ma, male, 72 years old, live in Changshu. On April 13, the provincial expert group diagnosed cases of human infection of H7N9 avian influenza confirmed cases. Currently in a hospital in Suzhou City, where a critical condition. After investigation, close contacts of the cases of a total of nine people, far showed no abnormality.
Again we are seeing primarily older patients diagnosed with this virus, something we expect to see with seasonal flu, but not necessarily with a novel strain like H7N9 to which the entire community presumably has no prior exposure and therefore no immunity.
The age distribution of cases - with most being over the age of 50 - poses an interesting epidemiological riddle, with no solid answers at this time.
Now that testing reagents have been distributed to other provinces in China, and testing outside of China ramps us, we will hopefully start seeing some answers to the long list of questions we have on this emerging virus.
