Hebei Province – Credit Wikipedia
# 7508
One of the mysteries regarding H7N9 is why some patients are so profoundly affected, while others appear to suffer only mild or moderate symptoms. Of the 134 known cases - 43 have died (32%) - while 87 have been discharged from the hospital.
According to the latest GAR update from the World Health Organization, 4 remain hospitalized in China.
Unknown are how many `mild’ cases that may have gone undetected. We’ve seen estimates ranging from a few hundred, to several thousand (see Lancet: Clinical Severity Of Human H7N9 Infection), which would bring down this CFR (Case Fatality Ratio) considerably.
What we can say, is that among hospitalized cases – where the patients have tended towards being older adults with pre-existing conditions – this virus exacts a heavy toll in terms of morbidity and mortality.
The age-skew of known H7N9 Cases – Credit CIDRAP
Which brings us to the reports on the condition of China’s most recent H7N9 patient – a 61-year-old woman from Hebei province, now hospitalized in critical condition in Beijing.
The following is a machine translation of a report from dfdaily.com (h/t Tetano on FluTrackers) and is similar to other media reports this morning.
Hebei infected with H7N9 patient's condition did not change a life-threatening
Wide network Posted at 2013-07-24 17:19
Reporters learned from the Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Hebei to Beijing for treatment of H7N9 bird flu disease compared with yesterday, the condition did not change significantly, still critical, life-threatening.
Hong Beijing July 24 news reporter learned from the Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Hebei to Beijing for treatment of H7N9 bird flu disease compared with yesterday, the condition did not change significantly, still critical, life-threatening.
This morning (July 24) to Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Tong Zhaohui, vice president, head of the Institute for the expert consultation comments, compared with yesterday, no significant change in the patient's condition, is still critical, life-threatening. Continue to monitor the circulation, gastrointestinal and other important organs, to maintain the current plasma support, thymosin enhance immunity, protect the gastric mucosa therapy, nutritional support, strict isolation, attention to good health care protection.
It is understood that Moumou, female, 61 years old, mainly "5 days fever, cough, dyspnea two days" on at 18:00 on July 18, 2013 Revenue Beijing Chaoyang Hospital respiratory intensive care unit. Now seven days of hospitalization, living RICU first seven days, endotracheal intubation first seven days. Patients currently live in the ward for the respiratory intensive care ward of negative pressure isolation ward.
Current diagnosis: human infection with H7N9 avian influenza virus pneumonia (severe cases), acute respiratory distress syndrome, septic shock, acute renal failure, disseminated intravascular coagulation, hypoalbuminemia, cholecystectomy.
According to many other media reports, the patient is currently on ECMO (extra corporeal membrane oxygenation) which has recently employed to treat severe cases of H7N9, MERS-CoV, and the 2009 H1N1 virus (see JAMA: H1N1, ECMO, and Survivability).
For the latest details on this case, the newshounds at FluTrackers have been doing a terrific job gathering and translating Chinese news reports, which you can read on this thread.
