19 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 19 additional laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus.
 
Details of the cases reported on Jan. 27,  2014 are as follows:
 
- A 76-year-old farmer from Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, who became ill on January 18. He was admitted to the hospital on January 21 and is currently in serious condition.

- A 40-year-old man from Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, who became ill on January 19. He was admitted to the hospital on January 23 and was transferred to another hospital on January 25. He is currently in critical condition. The patient has a history of exposure to poultry.

- A 65-year-old, man from Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, who became ill on January 16. He was admitted to the hospital on January 22 and was transferred to another hospital on January 23. He is currently in serious condition. The patient has a history of exposure to a live poultry market.

Details of the cases notified on Jan. 26, 2014 are as follows:
 
- A 49-year-old man from Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, who became ill on January 16. He was admitted to the hospital on  January 20 and transferred to other hospital on January 23. He is currently in serious condition. The patient has a history of exposure to poultry.

- A 60-year-old woman farmer from Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, who became ill on January 19. She was admitted to the hospital on January 23. She is currently in serious condition.

- A 48-year-old woman farmer from Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, who became ill on January 20. She was admitted to the hospital on January 23 and is currently in serious condition. The patient has a history of exposure to poultry.

- A 57-year-old farmer from Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, who became ill on January 16. He was admitted to the hospital on January 19 and transferred to other hospital on January 22. He is currently in serious condition. The patient has a history of exposure to live poultry market.

- A 46-year-old woman farmer from Quanzhou City, Fujian Province, who became ill on January 18. She was admitted to the hospital on January 22 and is currently in critical condition. The patient has a history of exposure to poultry.

- A 82-year-old man from Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, who became ill on January 11. He was admitted to the hospital on  January 21 and is currently in critical condition. The patient has a history of exposure to live poultry market.

Details of the cases reported on Jan. 25, 2014 are as follows:

- A 58-year-old man from Changping District, Beijing, who became ill on January 12. He was admitted to the hospital on January 16 and transferred to another hospital on January 24. He is currently in critical condition. The patient has a history of exposure to poultry.

- A 78-year-old woman from Ningbo City,Zhejiang Province, who became ill on January 17. She was admitted to the hospital on January 20 and transferred to another hospital on January 23. She is currently in critical condition.

- A 44-year-old woman from Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, who became ill on January 17. She was admitted to the hospital on January 20 and is currently in serious condition. The patient has a history of exposure to poultry.

- A 23-year-old woman from Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, who became ill on January 20. She was admitted to the hospital on January 22 and is currently in serious condition. The patient has a history of exposure to live poultry market.

- A 82-year-old woman from Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, who became ill on January 16. She was admitted to the hospital on January 17 and is currently in critical condition. The patient has a history of exposure to a live poultry market.

- A 73-year-old man from Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province, who became ill on January 18. He was admitted to the hospital on January 21 and is currently in critical condition.

- A 62-year-old woman farmer from Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province, who became ill on January 15. She was admitted to the hospital on January 20 and transferred to another hospital on January 21. She is currently in critical condition. The patient has a history of exposure to poultry.

- A 33-year-old farmer from Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province, who became ill on January 17. He was admitted to the hospital on January 10 and is currently in critical condition. The patient has a history of exposure to poultry.

- A 58-year-old woman from Huizhou City, Guangdong Province, who became ill on January 10. She was admitted to the hospital on January 16 and transferred to another hospital on January 23. She is currently in critical condition. The patient has a history of exposure to poultry.

- A 52-year-old poultry salesman from Meizhou City, Guangdong Province, who became ill on January 14. He was admitted to the hospital on January 20 and 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.
 
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.

Source: WHO