| 17 Octobre 2013
16 October 2013 - The National Health and Family Planning Commission, China notified WHO of a new laboratory-confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus. This is the first new confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus since 11 August 2013.
The patient is a 35-year-old man from Zhejiang Province. He was admitted to a hospital on 8 October 2013 and is in a critical condition. Additionally, a previously laboratory-confirmed patient from Hebei has died.
To date, WHO has been informed of a total of 136 laboratory-confirmed human cases with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus infection including 45 deaths. Currently, three patients are hospitalized and 88 have been discharged. So far, there is no evidence of sustainable human-to-human transmission.
The Chinese government continues to take strict monitoring, prevention and control measures, including: strengthening of epidemic surveillance and analysis; deployment of medical treatment; conducting public risk communication and information dissemination; strengthening international cooperation and exchanges; and is continuing to carry out scientific research.
WHO does not advise special screening at points of entry with regard to this event, nor does it currently recommend any travel or trade restrictions.
Several documents have been published on the WHO web site:
- Candidate vaccine viruses for avian influenza A(H7N9) as of 25 May 2013
- China-WHO Joint Mission on Human Infection with Avian Influenza A(H7N9) Virus, 18-24 April 2013, Mission Report
pdf, 467kb - Laboratory procedures- serological detection of avian influenza A(H7N9) infections by microneutralization assay
pdf, 162kb - Laboratory biorisk management for laboratories handling human specimens suspected or confirmed to contain avian influenza A(H7N9) virus causing human disease – interim recommendations
pdf, 695kb
