Thursday, January 09, 2014

Zhejiang Province Announces New H7N9 Case

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Zhejiang Province – Credit Wikipedia

 

 

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On January 5th Zhejiang Province Reported A New H7N9 Case, that of a 34-year-old woman from the city of Zhuji.  Today Zhejiang  has announced another case, this time a 51 year-old woman who is hospitalized at a Hangzhou hospital in serious condition. 

 

Details are limited on this newest case, including any epidemiological information. For reference,  however,  Hangzhou is located roughly 40 miles north of Zhuji.

 

First stop, a very brief announcement from Zhejiang’s Ministry of Health followed by the announcement from Hong Kong’s CHP.

Zhejiang Province, one case of human infection with the H7N9 new bird flu cases

Release date :2014 -01-09
Source: Ministry of Health and Family Planning Commission

Zhejiang Provincial Health and Family Planning Commission Jan. 9 Bulletin, 8 Nisshin province diagnosed one case of human infection with H7N9 avian influenza.

Shen certain patients, female, 51 years old, Zhejiang Tongxiang. January 8 was diagnosed human cases of avian influenza H7N9 infection, is now critically ill in a hospital in Hangzhou treatment.

 

 

CHP verifies with NHFPC a human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Zhejiang


The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) verified with the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) today (January 9) a human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) affecting a woman aged 51 in Zhejiang.

 

The case was confirmed yesterday (January 8) and the patient is receiving medical treatment in a hospital in Hangzhou and is in serious condition.

 

To date, a total of 152 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed on the Mainland. They are in Zhejiang (53 cases), Shanghai (34 cases), Jiangsu (29 cases), Guangdong (10 cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Fujian (five cases), Anhui (four cases), Henan (four cases), Beijing (two cases), Hunan (two cases), Shandong (two cases) and Hebei (one case).

 

The CHP will follow up with the Mainland health authorities for more case details.

 

"Locally, enhanced disease surveillance, port health measures and health education against avian influenza are ongoing. We will remain vigilant and maintain liaison with the World Health Organization (WHO) and relevant health authorities. Local surveillance activities will be modified upon the WHO's recommendations," a spokesman for the DH said.

"All boarder control points have implemented disease prevention and control measures. Thermal imaging systems are in place for body temperature checks of inbound travellers. Random temperature checks by handheld devices will also be arranged. Suspected cases will be immediately referred to public hospitals for follow-up investigation," the spokesman added.

(Continue.  . . )

 

I would further note that there are vague, unconfirmed reports in the Chinese press of additional suspected cases under investigation in Zhuji. Regardless of whether those prove positive, given the recent level of avian flu activity in China,  we should not be surprised if additional cases are announced.

 

For now, these cases remain sporadic, and show no apparent signs of efficient or sustained human-to-human transmission.