16 New Cases of Human Infection with H7N9 Virus are Reported to WHO

The National Health and Family Planning Commission of China has notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of 16 additional laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus.
 
Details of the cases reported on Jan. 17, 2014 are as follows:

- A 54-year-old man from Shanghai City who became ill on Jan. 3. He visited a hospital and was admitted to another hospital on Jan. 13. He is currently in critical condition. The patient has a history of exposure to poultry.

- A 66-year-old man from Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province who became ill on Jan. 7. He was admitted to the hospital on Jan. 11 and was transferred to another hospital on Jan. 15. He is currently in critical condition. The patient has a history of exposure to poultry.

- A 54-year-old man from Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province who became ill on Jan. 6. He was admitted to the hospital on Jan. 9. He is currently in critical condition.

- A 62-year-old man from Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province who became ill on Jan. 4. He was admitted to the hospital on Jan. 11 and was transferred to another hospital on Jan. 15. He is currently in critical condition. The patient has a history of exposure to poultry.
 
Details of the cases reported on Jan. 18, 2014 are as follows:
 
- A 35 year old man from Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province who became ill on 7 January. He was admitted to hospital on 11 January and was transferred to another hospital on 14 January. He is currently in a critical condition. The patient has a history of exposure to poultry.

- A 72 year old woman from Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province who became ill on Jan. 9. She was admitted to the hospital on Jan. 15 and was transferred to another hospital on Jan. 16. She is currently in critical condition. The patient has a history of exposure to poultry.

- A 69-year-old man from Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province who became ill on Jan. 13. He was admitted to the hospital and was then transferred to another hospital on Jan. 17. He is currently in critical condition.

- A 38-year-old woman from Jinjiang City, Fujian Province who became ill on Jan. 9. She was admitted to the hospital on Jan. 15. She is currently in critical condition. The patient has a history of exposure to poultry.

- A 54-year-old man from Ningde City, Fujian Province, who became ill on Jan. 8. He was admitted the hospital on Jan. 12 and was transferred to another hospital on Jan. 16. He is currently in critical condition. The patient has a history of exposure to poultry.
 
Details of the cases reported on Jan. 20, 2014 as follows:
 
- A 5-year-old girl from Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province who became ill on Jan. 14. She was admitted to the hospital on Jan. 15. She is currently in a stable condition.

- An 83-year-old woman from Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province who became ill on 2 January. She was admitted to the hospital on Jan. 10 and was transferred to another hospital on Jan. 16. She is currently in critical condition. The patient has a history of exposure to poultry.

- A 62-year-old man from Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, who became ill on Jan. 6. He visited a hospital on Jan. 7 and was admitted to another hospital on Jan. 17. He is currently in stable condition.

- A 55-year-old man from Shishi City, Fujian Province who became ill on Jan. 11. He was admitted to the hospital on Jan. 16. He is currently in critical condition. The patient has a history of exposure to poultry.

- A 53-year-old man from Zhuji City, Zhejiang Province who became ill on Jan. 10. He was admitted to the hospital and was transferred to another hospital on Jan. 17 He is currently in critical condition. The patient has a history of exposure to poultry.

- A 54-year-old man from Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, who became ill on Jan. 5. He was admitted to the hospital and was transferred to another hospital on Jan. 16. He is currently in critical condition. The patient has a history of exposure to poultry.

- A 61-year-old man from Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province who became ill on Jan. 10. He was admitted to a hospital on Jan. 10 and was transferred to another hospital on Jan. 12. He is currently in critical condition.
 
The source of infection is still under investigation. So far, there is no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission.

The Chinese government continues to take the following 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.
 
Source: WHO