Monday, January 06, 2014

WHO Update On H7N9 – January 6th

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The World Health Organization has posted an update on a pair of H7N9 cases from the middle of last month which occurred in Guangdong province (see earlier reports Shenzhen Reports H7N9 Case & Guangdong Province Reports Second H7N9 Case in Yangjiang City). 

 

As there have been more than a half dozen cases reported since those two, I would expect we will see a flurry of updates from the WHO over the next couple of days.

 

 

 

Human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus – update

Disease outbreak news

6 January 2014 - On 18 and 19 December 2013, the National Health and Family Planning Commission, China notified WHO of two new laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus.

The first patient is a 62 year old man from Guangdong Province. He became ill on 11 December 2013 and was admitted to hospital on 16 December 2013. He is currently in critical condition. He has a history of exposure to live poultry.

The second patient is 38 year old man from Guangdong Province. He became ill on 9 December 2013 and was admitted to hospital on 18 December 2013. He is currently in critical condition.

The Chinese government continues to take the following surveillance and control measures:

  • strengthen surveillance and situation analysis;
  • reinforce case management and treatment;
  • conduct risk communication with the public and release information;
  • strengthen international collaboration and communication; and
  • conduct scientific studies.

Additionally an 80 year old male reported earlier by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP), Hong Kong SAR, China died on 26 December 2013.

So far, there is no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission.

WHO does not advise special screening at points of entry with regard to this event, nor does it currently recommend any travel or trade restrictions.