China reports bird flu cases
The China Health and Family Planning Commission has notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of an additional four cases of human infection with influenza A(H7N9) in four patients who are from Jiangsu province in eastern China, meaning that the number of infections has passed 80. The patients include a 45-year-old woman with illness onset on 19 March 2013; a 48-year-old woman with illness onset on 19 March 2013; an 83-yearold man with illness onset on 20 March 2013; and a 32-year-old woman with illness onset on 21 March 2013. All of these patients are in a critical condition. To date, the total number of confirmed cases of human fatalities from influenza A(H7N9) virus in China is 17. Three confirmed cases were reported earlier from Shanghai and Anhui provinces, including two deaths. More than 160 close contacts of these four cases in Jiangsu province are being closely monitored. Thus far, none of them have developed any symptoms of illness. Retrospective investigation is ongoing into two contacts of one of the cases reported earlier from Shanghai. Both of these contacts developed symptoms of illness; one died and the other recovered. No laboratory confirmation is available for these two contacts.
The China Health and Family Planning Commission has notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of an additional four cases of human infection with influenza A(H7N9) in four patients who are from Jiangsu province in eastern China, meaning that the number of infections has passed 80. The patients include a 45-year-old woman with illness onset on 19 March 2013; a 48-year-old woman with illness onset on 19 March 2013; an 83-yearold man with illness onset on 20 March 2013; and a 32-year-old woman with illness onset on 21 March 2013. All of these patients are in a critical condition. To date, the total number of confirmed cases of human fatalities from influenza A(H7N9) virus in China is 17. Three confirmed cases were reported earlier from Shanghai and Anhui provinces, including two deaths. More than 160 close contacts of these four cases in Jiangsu province are being closely monitored. Thus far, none of them have developed any symptoms of illness. Retrospective investigation is ongoing into two contacts of one of the cases reported earlier from Shanghai. Both of these contacts developed symptoms of illness; one died and the other recovered. No laboratory confirmation is available for these two contacts.
The Chinese government is actively investigating this event and has heightened disease surveillance for early detection, diagnosis and treatment, while infection prevention and control has been strengthened in healthcare settings. Communication efforts between human and animal health and industry sectors have increased, and the government has advised the population to maintain good personal hygiene, including frequent hand-washing and avoiding direct contact with sick or dead animals. The WHO is in contact with national authorities and is following the event closely. The WHO-co-ordinated international response is also focusing on work with WHO Collaborating Centres for Reference and Research on Influenza and other partners to ensure that information is available and that materials are developed for diagnosis and treatment and vaccine development. No vaccine is currently available for this subtype of the influenza virus. Preliminary test results provided by the WHO Collaborating Centre in China suggest that the virus is susceptible to the neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir and zanamivir). The WHO has not advised that special screening at points of entry be introduced with regard to this event, nor does it recommend that any travel or trade restrictions be applied; however, passengers arriving in Seoul from China are being checked with thermal imaging cameras to detect high temperatures in passengers.