The Health and Family Planning Commission of Jiangxi Province is reporting an additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in a 39-year-old woman who is hospitalized for treatment in critical condition.

Image/CDC
Image/CDC

From 2013 to date, 635 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been reported by the Mainland health authorities. Regarding the third wave in the Mainland since November 2014, a total of 195 cases have been reported, including 72 in Guangdong , 39 in Fujian, 38 in Zhejiang, 17 in Jiangsu, seven in Anhui, seven in Xinjiang, six in Shanghai, three in Jiangxi, two in Hunan, two in Shandong, one in Guizhou and one in Hubei.

In addition to the cases reported from the Mainland, imported human cases have been reported from Hong Kong-13, Taiwan-4, Canada-2 and Malaysia-1.

Avian influenza A (H7N9) is an influenza (flu) virus found in birds that does not normally infect humans. However, in spring of 2013, China began reporting infections with the virus in people. Most of these infections have been associated with contact with infected poultry or contaminated environments(such as poultry markets) in China.

Early symptoms are consistent with seasonal flu and may include fever, cough, sore throat,muscle aches and fatigue, loss of appetite, and runny or stuffy nose. However, infection with this virus often causes severe respiratory illness and, in some cases, death.