China: Jilin province reports human H7N9 avian influenza infection, Taiwan-based Adimmune Corp to begin vaccine production this summer
The Jilin Provincial Government Information Office announced it’s first human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in a 50-year-old man residing in Changchun, according to a Chinese news source (computer translated).
The patient, a poultry farmer, is currently hospitalized and being treated and is considered to be in stable condition.
The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH), who have been doing a yeoman’s job of keeping a tally of the case count said on Feb. 21, a total of 352 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland. This does not include the newly reported case above and any others discovered since.
In Taiwan, Taichung-based Adimmune Corp said late last week that a vaccine for the H7N9 strain of avian flu is expected to begin mass production in June this year after completing human trials, according to a China Post report.
The vaccine company, the only one in Taiwan, said they completed animal trials and will begin a second phase of human trials for its H7N9 vaccine in March.
Up to 3 million vaccine doses per month will be able to be manufactured once production begins.
For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page and the Outbreak News This Week Radio Show page.
Looking for a job in health care? Check here to see what’s available
[…] The Global Dispatch China: Jilin province reports human H7N9 avian influenza infection, Taiwan … […]