Heat map – Credit Laidback Al FluTrackers
# 7250
As we ping-pong back and forth between emerging viruses today, the ECDC has posted a brief update to their risk assessment (to Europe) of the avian H7N9 virus that has infected at least 130 people in China over the past couple of months.
The bottom line is essentially, unless and until this virus becomes able to produce sustained human-to-human transmission, the risk to Europe remains low.
Updated ECDC risk assessment on avian influenza A(H7N9) virus in China
08 May 2013
ECDC
Today, ECDC is publishing a second update of its rapid risk assessment on avian influenza A(H7N9) virus in China to take account of latest developments. However, the overall assessment of the risk to Europe remains unchanged.
As of 1 May, there were 128 laboratory-confirmed cases, including 26 deaths reported from eight neighbouring provinces (Anhui, Fujian, Henan, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shandong, and Zhejiang) and two municipalities (Beijing and Shanghai). One case who acquired his infection in Jiangsu travelled to Taiwan before developing illness.
A few small clusters were detected but almost all cases have occurred sporadically, without obvious epidemiological links. While occasional human-to-human transmission in the clusters cannot be ruled out, there is certainly no confirmation of sustained human-to-human transmission.
ECDC stresses that EU citizens living or working in China should avoid live-bird markets. It is likely that travellers who become infected in China may import the disease to Europe. However, the occurrence of imported cases would not change ECDC’s risk assessment.
