Shandong Province – Credit Wikipedia
# 7888
Just over a week after announcing their first H7N9 case of the fall (see Zhejiang Province Reports New H7N9 Case), Zhejiang Province Health officials are reporting a second case, that of a 67 year-old farmer, now living in Xiuzhou, who fell ill on October 16th. Here is the brief statement (h/t @Ironorehopper for the twitter head’s up) by the Zhejiang Department of Health.
Zhejiang new case of human infection of H7N9 avian influenza
Release date :2013 -10-23
Zhejiang Provincial Health Department
October 23, 2013Zhejiang Provincial Health Department on October 23 briefing, Zhejiang new case of human infection of H7N9 avian influenza.
Patients Moumou, male, aged 67, farmer, now living in Xiuzhou. Incidence on October 16, Jiaxing now a hospital for treatment.The provincial CDC retest the patient specimens infected with H7N9 avian influenza virus human nucleic acid positive. Jiaxing experts on clinical manifestations, epidemiological and laboratory test results are discussed, the diagnosis confirmed human cases of avian influenza H7N9 infection. Currently, the patient was seriously ill, hospitals are in active treatment.
I expect we’ll see a statement from Hong Kong’s Centre For Health Protection later in the day, and hopefully some more epidemiological details emerge as well. On Sunday, in Hong Kong: SFH Outlines Measures Against H7N9, we looked at some of Hong Kong’s preparations for the possibility of seeing the H7N9 virus re-emerge this fall and winter.
While a concern, the return of H7N9 is not a surprise.
On October 7th, the World Health Organization published an updated Influenza at the human-animal interface Summary and assessment, which warned that we should be prepared to see new cases of H7N9 in China as cooler temperatures.
Avian influenza A(H7N9) in China
(EXCERPT)
Most human A(H7N9) cases have reported contact with poultry or live animal markets. Knowledge about the main virus reservoirs and the extent and distribution of the virus in animals remains limited and, because it causes only subclinical infections in poultry, it is possible that the virus continues to circulate in China and perhaps in neighboring countries. As such, reports of additional human cases and infections in animals would not be unexpected, especially as the Northern Hemisphere autumn approaches. Although four small family clusters have been reported among previous cases, evidence does not support sustained human-to-human transmission of this virus.
Overall public health risk assessment for avian influenza A(H7N9) virus: Sporadic human cases and small clusters would not be unexpected in previously affected and possibly neighboring areas/countries of China. The current likelihood of community level spread of this virus is considered low.
Continued vigilance is needed within China and neighboring areas to detect infections in animals and humans. WHO advises countries to continue surveillance and other preparedness actions, including ensuring appropriate laboratory capacity. All human infections with non-seasonal influenza viruses such as avian influenza A(H7N9) are reportable to WHO under the IHR (2005).
Current technical information as well as guidance related to avian influenza A(H7N9) can be found at: http://www.who.int/influenza/human_animal_interface/influenza_h7n9/en/index.html
Research over the summer has shown this H7N9 virus to be better suited to infect mammals than other avian viruses we’ve followed in the past (see Science: H7N9 Transmissibility Study In Ferrets).The $64 question, of course, is whether this virus has moved any closer to being able to be efficiently transmitted among humans.
And luckily – so far, anyway - we’ve seen no indication that this has happened.
Stay tuned.
