WHO Issues Updates on H7N9, MERS-CoV

The National Health and Family Planning Commission, China has notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of an additional laboratory-confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus. This is the first new confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus since May 29, 2013.

The patient is a 61-year-old woman from Langfang City in Hebei Province who became ill on July 10, 2013. She was admitted to a local hospital July 10-15, 2013 and transferred to a hospital in Beijing on July 18. She is in a critical condition. On July 20, 2013, Beijing Municipal Center for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed avian influenza A(H7N9) virus by nucleic acid detection.

To date, WHO has been informed of a total of 134 laboratory-confirmed human cases with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus including 43 deaths. Four cases are hospitalized and 87 have been discharged. So far, there is no evidence of sustainable human to human transmission.

The Chinese government continues to take strict monitoring, prevention and control measures, including: strengthening of epidemic surveillance and analysis; deployment of medical treatment; conducting public risk communication and information dissemination; strengthening international cooperation and exchanges; and is continuing to carry out scientific research.

WHO also has been informed of two additional laboratory-confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection in Saudi Arabia. Both cases are currently critically ill and hospitalized in ICUs. The first case is a 41-year-old Saudi male in Riyadh who presented to the hospital with symptoms on July 15. The second patient is a 59-year-old Saudi female in the Al-Ahsa governorate. She presented with symptoms on July 11. Both patients have underlying medical conditions, but neither patient has had contact with known MERS-CoV confirmed cases or animals. WHO is seeking more information from the National IHR Focal Point of Saudi Arabia.

Globally, from September 2012 to date, WHO has been informed of a total of 90 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including 45 deaths.

Source: WHO