Further bird flu cases in China
New cases of H7N9 avian influenza (or ‘bird flu’) have been observed in China, with a Hong Kong woman and her four-year-old daughter being placed in isolation at Princess Margaret Hospital after they were infected by a man in the mainland city of Shenzhen at the end of December. They were located and admitted to the isolation ward on 7 January, and although at the time of writing the girl has been observed as asymptomatic, there are fears that her mother may be manifesting symptoms. The man who infected them was admitted to hospital on 3 January, and treated with Tamiflu.
New cases of H7N9 avian influenza (or ‘bird flu’) have been observed in China, with a Hong Kong woman and her four-year-old daughter being placed in isolation at Princess Margaret Hospital after they were infected by a man in the mainland city of Shenzhen at the end of December. They were located and admitted to the isolation ward on 7 January, and although at the time of writing the girl has been observed as asymptomatic, there are fears that her mother may be manifesting symptoms. The man who infected them was admitted to hospital on 3 January, and treated with Tamiflu.
In total, 149 human cases – with 49 deaths – of bird flu have been diagnosed in mainland China, and two in Hong Kong. The virus poses a fairly low threat to travellers, and although cases are still being reported, as yet there has been little incidence of sustained person-to-person transmission.