Chinese health officials are reporting an additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) on the mainland, according to provincial health officials.
According to the Health and Family Planning Commission (HFPC) of Guangdong Province, the 74-year-old male patient lived in Meizhou, Guangdong.
“H5 and H7N9 avian influenza viruses can cause severe infections in humans. Due to the seasonal pattern, our risk assessment shows that the activity of avian influenza viruses is expected to remain at a high level in winter months. Increased numbers of human H5N6 and H7N9 cases have been recorded in the Mainland since this winter. Locally, birds positive for H5N6 were also detected this winter.
“The public, particularly poultry traders, travellers and those who may visit the Mainland in the coming Lunar New Year, should be highly alert. Do not visit poultry markets and farms. Avoid poultry contact. We will continue to monitor the regional and global disease situation,” a spokesman for the Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection noted.
From 2013 to date, 682 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been reported by the Mainland health authorities.
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