WHO: 16 confirmed cases, six deaths in China bird flu outbreak
In a follow up to the everchanging situation with the China bird flu outbreak, Chinese health authorities notified World Health Organization (WHO) of an additional five laboratory-confirmed cases, including one death due to human infection with influenza A(H7N9) virus today.
Image/CIA
According to a a WHO Global Alert and Response April 5, three of the cases are from Shanghai and two from Jiangsu.
To date, a total of 16 patients have been laboratory confirmed with influenza A(H7N9) virus in China; of these, six people have died.
More than 520 close contacts of the confirmed cases are being closely monitored. In Jiangsu, investigation is ongoing into a contact of an earlier confirmed case who developed symptoms of illness.
In addition, Shanghai government officials closed down the Huhuai market and more than 20,000 birds were culled after authorities detected H7N9 avian influenza in pigeon samples.
The Chinese government is actively investigating this event and has heightened disease surveillance. The animal health sector has intensified investigations into the possible sources and reservoirs of the virus. To date, officials have no evidence of person-to-person transmission of H7N9 avian influenza.
No vaccine is currently available for this subtype of the influenza virus. Preliminary test results provided by the WHO Collaborating Centre in China suggest that the virus is susceptible to the influenza antivirals, Tamiflu and Relenza.
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