# 7213
While a lot of the questions still cannot be answered with much more than - `we don’t know yet’ - the World Health Organization has updated their extensive H7N9 FAQ page, with the latest information available.
Sometimes the hardest things for officials to do is to admit the limits of their knowledge of, or ability to control, a potentially risky situation.
WHO has, quite commendably, been consistently straightforward and open about what they know – and don’t know – about this emerging viral threat.
I’ve only posted the link, and a small fraction of the FAQ. Follow the link to read it in its entirety.
Frequently Asked Questions on human infection caused by the avian influenza A(H7N9) virus
Update as of 30 April 2013
Note that this document supersedes the previous version. Updates will be posted as new information becomes available.
1. What is the avian influenza A(H7N9) virus?
Avian influenza A H7 viruses are a group of influenza viruses that normally circulate among birds. The avian influenza A(H7N9) virus is one subgroup among the larger group of H7 viruses. Although some H7 viruses (H7N2, H7N3 and H7N7) have occasionally been found to infect humans, no human infections with H7N9 viruses have been reported until recent reports from China.
2. What are the main symptoms of human infection caused by avian influenza A(H7N9) virus?
Thus far, most patients with this infection have had severe pneumonia. Symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. However, information is still limited about the full spectrum of illness that infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus might cause.
3. How many human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) virus have been reported in China to date?
New cases that are reported are now being compiled and posted daily. The most current information on cases can be found in Disease Outbreak News.
4. Why is this virus infecting humans now?
We do not know the answer to this question yet, because we do not know the source of exposure for these human infections. However, analysis of the genes of these viruses suggests that although the viruses have evolved in birds, they may infect mammals more easily than other avian viruses.
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7. How are people becoming infected with the avian influenza A(H7N9) virus?
At this point it is not known how persons are becoming infected. Some of the confirmed cases had contact with animals or with environments where animals are housed. The virus has now been found in chickens, ducks, and captive-bred pigeons at live bird markets near locations where cases have been reported. The possibility of an animal source of the infection is being investigated, as is the possibility of person-to-person transmission.
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12. Is the source of infection poultry and live poultry markets?
Although some evidence points to live poultry as a source of infection, it cannot yet be confirmed that live poultry is the primary or the only source of infection. Neither is there enough evidence to exclude other possible animal or environmental sources of infection.
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16. Is the general population at risk from the avian influenza A(H7N9) virus?
We do not yet know enough about these infections to determine whether there is a significant risk of community person to person spread. This possibility is the subject of epidemiological investigations that are now taking place.
17. Are health care workers at risk from the avian influenza A(H7N9) influenza virus?
Health care workers often come into contact with patients with infectious diseases. Therefore, WHO recommends that appropriate infection prevention and control measures be consistently applied in health care settings, and that the health status of health care workers be closely monitored. Together with standard precautions, health care workers caring for those suspected or confirmed to have avian influenza A(H7N9) infection should use additional precautions (see:
http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/swineflu/WHO_CDS_EPR_2007_6/en/index.html ).18. What investigations have begun?
Local and national health authorities are taking the following measures, among others:
• Enhanced surveillance for pneumonia cases of unknown origin to ensure early detection and laboratory confirmation of new cases;
• Epidemiological investigation, including assessment of suspected cases and contacts of known cases;
• Close collaboration with animal health authorities to determine the source of the infection.19. Does this influenza virus pose a pandemic threat?
An animal influenza virus that develops the ability to infect people could theoretically carry a risk of causing a pandemic. However, whether the avian influenza A(H7N9) virus could actually cause a pandemic is unknown. Other animal influenza viruses that have been found to infect people occasionally have not gone on to cause a pandemic.
