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Health Information Update

Source: WHO, Event Information Site for IHR National Focal

Event Updates:  02 August 2017

Event Updated Country Hazard Disease Event Description IHR Assessment
2017-08-02 China Zoonosis Influenza due to identified avian or animal influenza virus On 11, 14 and 21 July 2017, the National Health and Family Planning Commission of China (NHFPC) notified WHO respectively of 1 additional laboratory-confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus in mainland China.

 

The case notified on 11 July was a 35-year-old male, and developed symptoms on 23 June, and died on 30 June. This was the first reported case from Xinjiang since April 2015. He was a butcher and seller at live poultry market.

 

The case notified on 14 July was a 54-year-old male from Yunnan province. He developed symptoms on 23 June 2017 and was admitted to hospital with severe pneumonia on 28 June 2017. He was reported to have had exposure to live poultry market. 

 

The case notified on 21 July is a 62-year-old female from Jiangsu province. She developed symptoms on 12 July 2017 and was admitted to hospital with severe pneumonia on 13 July 2017. She was reported to have had exposure to a live poultry market also in Jiangsu province. 

 

The Chinese government assessed that although one newly infected human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) had been reported in each week of the past three weeks, it is still likely that sporadic cases will occur in China taking into consideration the previous epidemic situation and risk assessment.

 

To date, a total of 1,557 laboratory-confirmed human infections with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus have been reported through IHR notification since early 2013.

 

Thus the government, at national and local level, continues to take preventive measures which include:

1.     Continuing to guide the provinces to strengthen assessment, and prevention and control measures.

2.     Continuing to strengthen control measures focusing on hygienic management of live poultry markets and cross-regional transportation;

3.     Conducting detailed source investigations to inform effective prevention and control measures;

4.     Continuing to detect and treat human infections with avian influenza A(H7N9) early to reduce mortality;

5.     Continuing to carry out risk communication and issue information notices to provide the public with guidance on self-protection; and

6.     Strengthening virology surveillance to better understand levels of virus contamination in the environment as well as mutations, in order to provide further guidance for prevention and control.

 

 Public Health Risk (PHR)

 

*A public health risk is something that is (or is likely to be) hazardous to human health or could contribute to a disease or an infectious condition in humans.