Credit CDC
# 8256
With the triple caveats that the New Year’s celebration may be affecting reporting, that it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep these cases straight, and that surveillance is likely only picking up a subset of the actual number of infections, anyway . . . we’ve reports of five new H7N9 cases from three provinces so far this morning to add to yesterday’s four cases reported from Guangdong Province (see CIDRAP China reports 4 more H7N9 infections, 1 fatal).
Our first stop is Guangdong Province, where two young boys (ages 5 & 6) are reported to be infected, but in stable condition.
2014-02-01 11:34:10 Ministry of Health and Family Planning Commission |
Guangdong Provincial Health and Family Planning Commission February 1 Bulletin, Shenzhen and Zhaoqing new H7N9 avian influenza were confirmed cases of one case of human infection.
Case 1 Lee, male, 6 years old, currently residing in Buji Street. February 1 confirmed human cases of avian influenza H7N9 infection, in patients with mild symptoms currently in stable condition.Case 2 European, male, 5 years old, currently residing in Zhaoqing Huaiji County Huai town. February 1 confirmed human cases of avian influenza H7N9 infection, the patient's condition is currently stable in Zhaoqing City, the designated hospital admission.
Another Shenzhen January 21 confirmed cases and Kongmou Xu, were cured and discharged on January 31. Foshan City, January 31 confirmed cases of Tanmou, He died on Jan. 31 death.
From the beginning of the H7N9 outbreak, we’ve seen a decided skewing of cases towards older, and predominantly male victims, as demonstrated by Ian Mackay’s Age Pyramid Chart from 1/30/2014.
Just under 1/3rd of China’s population is under the age of 25 (cite), yet we find H7N9 cases among that age group to be relatively uncommon.
Using FluTrackers terrific H7N9 Case Line Listing, we have 282 cases to date, of which I count only 14 (5.6%) under the age of 25. While rarely reported, the one common denominator among most of these younger cases seems to be a milder course of illness, which begs the question:
Are younger people truly infected at a rate 1/6th that of what the population’s demographics would suggest, or are they just less likely to be detected due to experiencing milder symptoms?
The answer to that question can probably only be answered by broad based serological testing. Like the skewing towards male victims, the answers remain elusive.
Next stop, Zhejiang Province, which reports two cases as well. And more typically, these cases are older (54 & 80) and are in critical condition.
Zhejiang Province, two cases of human infection with the H7N9 new bird flu cases
Source: Ministry of Health and Family Planning Commission
February 1, 2014Zhejiang Provincial Health and Family Planning Commission February 1 briefing, the province added two cases of human infection with the H7N9 avian influenza.
1, patients Yang Moumou, male, 80 years old, farmer, Hangzhou, Fuyang City People. January 31 confirmed human infection of H7N9 avian influenza. Is now in critical condition, in Hangzhou, a hospital for treatment.
2, patients Xu, male, 54 years old, workers, Hangzhou City people. January 31 confirmed human infection of H7N9 avian influenza. Is now in critical condition, in Hangzhou, a hospital for treatment.
The last report (for now) comes from Xinhua News, announcing Human Province’s 2nd H7N9 case of 2014. So far, I’ve not found an official statement.
New human H7N9 case confirmed in central China
English.news.cn 2014-02-01 14:13:10
CHANGSHA, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- A new human H7N9 case was reported in central China's Hunan Province on Saturday.
A 38-year-old man from the city of Yongzhou is in a stable condition. Those who had close contact with him have tested negative for H7N9, the provincial health department said in a statement.
It is the second infection in Hunan this year.
H7N9 has so far killed 21 people in China this year, and the number of human infections has reached 103.
