#12,252
Although based on incomplete data, the chart above illustrates just how dramatically H7N9 has taken off in China during this 5th epidemic wave.
With historically at least a couple of months left to China's `winter epidemic season' - and the delays inherent in testing and reporting out of China - these numbers are only going to rise in the weeks ahead.
I've only excerpted part of today's report from the FAO. Follow the link for all the charts, graphs, and links.
22 February 2017, 17:00 hours; Rome
The next update will be issued on 8 March 2017
Overview
Situation: Influenza A(H7N9) virus with pandemic potential.
Country: China; three human cases originated in China and were reported in Malaysia (1) and Canada (2).
Number of human cases: 1230 confirmed; 428 deaths (since February 2013)
Provinces/municipalities: Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin municipalities; Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Qinghai, Shandong, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan and Zhejiang Provinces of China; Hong Kong SAR; Macao SAR, Guangxi, Ningxia Hui and Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Regions; Sabah (Malaysia); British Columbia (Canada).
Animal/environmental findings: over 2,000 virological samples from the environment, chickens, pigeons, ducks and a tree sparrow tested positive; positives mainly from live bird markets, vendors and some commercial or breeding farms.
FAO actions: liaise with China and partners, monitor situation, monitor virus evolution, conduct market chain analysis, risk assessment, surveillance guidance and communication.
Situation update
Animals
- 21 February, Jiangxi: Nanchang City closed all LBMs and live bird trading places for 14 days, from 22 February to 7 March [reference]. Environmental sample collected by the County CDC in a poultry trading market in Yujiang County, Yingtan city, Jiangxi Province tested positive for H7 on 13 February. The affected market was closed from 16 to 22 February [reference].
- 20 February, Taiwan: A recent H7N9 isolate from an imported human case (exposed in Guangdong) showed three additional basic amino acids inserted at the HA cleavage site; this may be a sign for increased pathogenicity in poultry [reference].
- 19 February, Guangdong: Transport of all live birds was temporary suspended from Anhui, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, and other H7N9 epidemiologically high risk provinces. In addition the province also temporarily suspended transport of commercial live birds from Fujian, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hunan, Hubei, Liaoning, Shandong, Shanghai, Sichuan, and others with infected cases (excluding poultry certified after negative pathogen detection test) [reference].
- 18 February, Guangdong: Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H7N9) virus was confirmed in samples collected from a live bird market (LBM) by the National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza in Harbin. The affected live poultry market has been closed and surveillance is strengthened in the whole province [reference]. A similar virus was also isolated from two human cases. Both reported contact with live poultry and epidemiological investigations revealed mortalities in the respective poultry flocks. The isolates are genetically similar to the influenza A (H7N9) virus circulating in China since 2013 but showed additional basic amino acids inserted at the HA cleavage site; this may be a sign for increased pathogenicity in poultry [reference].
(SNIP)
- 18 February, Anhui: Chizhou City temporarily shut down all domestic poultry markets from 18 February for 14 days [reference].
- 14 February, Guangdong: In Zhuhai City, routine environmental influenza monitoring detected H7 positive samples from two markets in Jinwan and Doumen Districts. Both markets were temporarily closed from 15 to 17 February (3 days) [reference].
Humans
- Since the last update (15 February 2017), 56 new human cases have been reported in Hubei (11), Jiangsu (9), Zhejiang (8), Guangdong (7), Anhui (4), Fujian (4), Jiangxi (3), Hunan (2), Shandong (2), Sichuan (2), Liaoning (1), Yunnan (1), Guangxi (1) and Guizhou (1).
- For detailed information on human cases, please refer to WHO's Disease Outbreak News.
(Continue . . )
