Chinese health authorities have notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of four additional cases of the novel H7N9 avian influenza from Jiangsu province in eastern China, according to a WHO Global Alert and Response April 3.
These cases come after reports Monday that three people were infected and two died from the strain of the virus not previously seen in humans from Shanghai and Anhui provinces.
Update: A third man in China has died from the H7N9 virus, nine total cases
The four new cases include a 45-year-old woman with illness onset on 19 March 2013; a 48-year-old woman with illness onset on 19 March 2013; an 83-year-old man with illness onset on 20 March 2013; and a 32-year-old woman with illness onset on 21 March 2013. All of these patients are in a critical condition, according to the WHO.
Scores of contacts of the four unrelated cases have been monitored, and to date, none have showed symptoms of the serious viral disease.
WHO does not advise special screening at points of entry with regard to this event, nor does it recommend that any travel or trade restrictions be applied.
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However, several of China's neighbors have increased surveillance and are strictly monitoring the situation.
In Hong Kong, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) has sent letters to doctors to inform them of the latest situation as well as to remind them to report any suspected cases.
"We will heighten our vigilance and continue to maintain stringent port health measures in connection with this development,"a CHP spokesman said.
"The CHP is maintaining close liaison with the Mainland health authorities and will closely monitor the advice from the World Health Organization,” the spokesman added.
In Taiwan, border control measures and disease prevention readiness have been ramped up. “We are closely monitoring the situation and will initiate a nationwide influenza pandemic alert if necessary,” ROC Department of Health minister Chiu Wen-ta said April 2.
In Thailand, authorities remain on high alert to prevent the lethal virus from entering the country.
According to the WHO, Influenza A H7 viruses are a group of influenza viruses that normally circulate among birds. The influenza A(H7N9) virus is one subgroup among the larger group of H7 viruses. Although some H7 viruses (H7N2, H7N3 and H7N7) have occasionally been found to infect humans, no human infections with H7N9 viruses have been reported until recent reports from China.
Patients who have been sickened with influenza A(H7N9) virus have severe pneumonia. They have presented with the following symptoms: fever, cough and shortness of breath.
Authorities say the source of the infection and the mode of transmission is still uncertain.
It is unclear why this strain of bird flu is affecting humans now; however, the WHO says analysis of the genes of these viruses suggests that although they have evolved from avian (bird) viruses, they show signs of adaption to growth in mammalian species. These adaptations include an ability to bind to mammalian cells, and to grow at temperatures close to the normal body temperature of mammals (which is lower than that of birds).
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