The Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province announced an additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in mainland China.

Image/CDC
Image/CDC

The patient, a 58-year-old woman from Jieyang, is hospitalized in critical condition.

From 2013 to date, 667 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been reported nationally and the 184th case in Guangdong Province.

This is the 10th case reported in China since October. According to a post in Avian Flu Diary, H7N9 cases generally begin to rise in January and peak between February and April.

Health officials also reported an H5N6 avian influenza fatality in 26-year-old woman from Shenzhen reported last week.

The human H7N9 and H5N6 avian influenza cases come ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday in early February when millions of Chinese travel to their home towns to celebrate with their families, with chicken a popular festive meal.

Hong Kong health officials remind travelers returning from avian influenza-affected areas with fever or respiratory symptoms, should immediately wear masks, seek medical attention and reveal their travel history to doctors. Health-care professionals should pay special attention to patients who might have had contact with poultry, birds or their droppings in affected areas.

The public should remain vigilant and take heed of the advice against avian influenza below:

* Do not visit live poultry markets and farms. Avoid contact with poultry, birds and their droppings;
* If contact has been made, thoroughly wash hands with soap;
* Avoid entering areas where poultry may be slaughtered and contact with surfaces which might be contaminated by droppings of poultry or other animals;
* Poultry and eggs should be thoroughly cooked before eating;
* Wash hands frequently with soap, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes, handling food or eating; after going to the toilet or touching public installations or equipment (including escalator handrails, elevator control panels and door knobs); and when hands are dirtied by respiratory secretions after coughing or sneezing;
* Cover the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing, hold the spit with a tissue and put it into a covered dustbin;
* Avoid crowded places and contact with fever patients; and
* Wear masks when respiratory symptoms develop or when taking care of fever patients.