A 2-month old female child who lives in Guangdong Province, China was confirmed positive for A(H9N2) influenza in June, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), becoming the third case in China this year.

Image/pavlofox
Image/pavlofox

She had onset of influenza-like illness (ILI) on 28 April 2017. The patient was hospitalized on 9 June. A sample collected from the patient on 13 June as part of ILI surveillance was laboratory-confirmed as positive for A(H9N2) influenza virus on 16 June.

The patient was exposed to backyard poultry prior to illness. She has fully recovered.

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The two previous cases reported this year were in February and May in a 11 month old child and a 32 year old man, respectively.

In most human cases of avian influenza A(H9N2), the associated disease symptoms have been mild and there has been no evidence of human-to-human transmission. Influenza A(H9N2) viruses are enzootic in poultry populations in parts of Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Most human cases are exposed to the A(H9N2) virus through contact with infected poultry or contaminated environments. Human infection tends to result in mild clinical illness. Since the virus continues to be detected in poultry populations, further human cases can be expected.

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