China avian influenza A(H7N9) case count continues to grow, first case reported from Shandong province
The human avian influenza A(H7N9) outbreak in China shows no sign of slowing, in fact, it appears to be spreading in the country as the first case has been reported in the northeastern province of Shandong, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) update today.
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The National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) notified WHO of an additional four laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with the virus, bringing the total to a total of 108.
The newest cases include a 84-year old man from Zhejiang province who became ill on 15 April 2013, the second patient is a 62-year-old man from Zhejiang province who became ill on 15 April 2013, the third patient is a 91-year-old man from Anhui province who became ill on 14 April 2013, and the fourth patient is a 36-year-old man from Shandong province who became ill on 16 April 2013.
A patient reported infected on a earlier date from Zhejiang province has died, bringing the total fatalities to 22.
Investigations into the possible sources of infection and reservoirs of the virus are ongoing. Until the source of infection has been identified, it is expected that there will be further cases of human infection with the virus in China. So far, there is no evidence of ongoing human-to-human transmission, the WHO said.
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[…] China human avian influenza A(H7N9) outbreak, as of yesterday, stood at 108 confirmed cases and 22 fatalities, all on the […]