China reports two new human H7N9 bird flu cases, brings total to 139
Chinese health officials have reported two additional laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus, according to a World Health Organization update Nov. 6.
These are the first cases since mid-October.
This diagram depicts the origins of the H7N9 virus from China and shows how the virus’s genes came from other influenza viruses in birds. Image/CDC
The first patient is a three-year-old boy in Dongguan, Guangdong Province who had contact with live poultry. He presented with minor symptoms without fever on Oct. 29 and is currently receiving treatment under isolation in hospital. He is in stable condition.
All seven of the boy’s close contacts who were under close observation tested negative for the virus, though three had flu-like symptoms.
The second patient is a 64-year-old woman from Zhejiang Province. She is a farmer and also had contact with live poultry. She is currently in critical condition.
Gregory Hartl, Head of Public Relations/Social Media for the World Health Organization tweeted yesterday, “Two #H7N9 cases in different parts of China on the same day. Winter is starting.” Could another wave of avian influenza A(H7N9) virus infections be on the horizon?
The first cases of the novel strain of avian influenza were reported in Feb. 2013.
With the addition of these two new cases, this brings the total to laboratory-confirmed 139 cases, resulting in 45 deaths.
For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page
[…] is the third case reported in November, with the other two being reported, from Zhejiang Province and Guangdong Province, at the beginning of the […]
[…] the total number of cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus up to 139, with 45 dea…, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a travel notice Friday for […]