Flu spreads as new area confirms H7N9 case
Source: Agencies/Shanghai Daily |
April 24, 2013, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE H7N9 bird flu virus has spread to a new area after eastern Shandong Province confirmed its first case of the infection that has killed 22 people in China.
An elderly man in Zhejiang Province was the latest victim.
Since March 31, when it was revealed that the virus had been discovered in humans for the first time, most cases have been confined to Shanghai and three nearby provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui.
Beijing and the central province of Henan have also reported cases.
The health ministry said that a 36-year-old construction materials wholesaler from Shandong's Zaozhuang tested positive on Monday and the result was confirmed by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention yesterday.
The man is in serious condition but none of his close contacts has shown any abnormal symptoms.
Meanwhile, an elderly man in Zhejiang died of bird flu yesterday. The 86-year-old had been diagnosed with the H7N9 virus on April 17, the Zhejiang Health Bureau said.
Zhejiang also reported two new cases - men aged 84 and 62, both from Hangzhou, who fell ill on April 15.
Neighboring Anhui Province reported one new case - a 91-year-old man who became ill on April 14.
Shanghai had no new cases or deaths yesterday. The city has reported 33 cases so far, including 12 deaths. Eight patients have recovered while 13 at still undergoing treatment.
So far, a total of 108 people have contracted the disease in China with many of those affected having worked with poultry.
Investigators have yet to determine human-to-human transmission of the virus.
"Investigations into the possible sources of infection and reservoirs of the virus are ongoing," the World Health Organization said.
"Until the source of infection has been identified, it is expected that there will be further cases of human infection with the virus in China."
The WHO's China representative, Michael O'Leary, previously issued figures showing that half of the patients analyzed had no known contact with poultry, but he said it appeared human-to-human transmission was rare.
Chinese health officials have acknowledged cases where members of a single family have become infected.
An elderly man in Zhejiang Province was the latest victim.
Since March 31, when it was revealed that the virus had been discovered in humans for the first time, most cases have been confined to Shanghai and three nearby provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui.
Beijing and the central province of Henan have also reported cases.
The health ministry said that a 36-year-old construction materials wholesaler from Shandong's Zaozhuang tested positive on Monday and the result was confirmed by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention yesterday.
The man is in serious condition but none of his close contacts has shown any abnormal symptoms.
Meanwhile, an elderly man in Zhejiang died of bird flu yesterday. The 86-year-old had been diagnosed with the H7N9 virus on April 17, the Zhejiang Health Bureau said.
Zhejiang also reported two new cases - men aged 84 and 62, both from Hangzhou, who fell ill on April 15.
Neighboring Anhui Province reported one new case - a 91-year-old man who became ill on April 14.
Shanghai had no new cases or deaths yesterday. The city has reported 33 cases so far, including 12 deaths. Eight patients have recovered while 13 at still undergoing treatment.
So far, a total of 108 people have contracted the disease in China with many of those affected having worked with poultry.
Investigators have yet to determine human-to-human transmission of the virus.
"Investigations into the possible sources of infection and reservoirs of the virus are ongoing," the World Health Organization said.
"Until the source of infection has been identified, it is expected that there will be further cases of human infection with the virus in China."
The WHO's China representative, Michael O'Leary, previously issued figures showing that half of the patients analyzed had no known contact with poultry, but he said it appeared human-to-human transmission was rare.
Chinese health officials have acknowledged cases where members of a single family have become infected.
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