Chinese health authorities are reporting a confirmed case of human H7N9 avian influenza in an individual from Meizhou City, Guangdong Province, China, according to a Taiwan CDC travel advisory (computer translated).
The patient is being treated in a Meizhou hospital. The source of the infection is still under investigation.
From 2013 to date, 662 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been reported by the Mainland health authorities.
In addition, 20 cases imported from China have been reported in Canada (2), Hong Kong (13), Malaysia (1) and Taiwan (4).
Avian influenza (AI) is caused by those influenza viruses that mainly affect birds and poultry, such as chickens or ducks. These AI viruses are distinct from human seasonal influenza viruses. Since the AI viruses does not commonly infect human, there is little or no immune protection against them in the human population. People mainly become infected with AI through direct contact with infected birds and poultry (live or dead), their droppings or contaminated environments.
2 thoughts on “H7N9 avian influenza case reported in Meizhou City, Guangdong Province”