Nature's Nightmare: Human infection with Avian Flu

What Mother Nature has been trying to do for several years now has reared its head in the People's Republic of China: Avian Influenza A (H7N9). It began almost a year ago. Today, the virus continues to spread. Person-to-person contamination has been confirmed, around one third of the cases have resulted in death.

In March 2013, the People's Republic of China reported the first cases of Influenza A (H7N9). CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers "Most concerning about this situation is the pandemic potential of this virus".

While there is as yet no evidence of sustained person-to-person spread, there is evidence that there is limited contamination. According to CDC, "Influenza viruses constantly change and it's possible that this virus could gain the ability to spread easily and sustainably among people, triggering a global outbreak of disease (pandemic)".

The spring of 2013 saw 132 human A H7N9 infections, with 44 deaths in the People's Republic of China. The health authorities took control measures (closing live bird markets), the weather changed and the crisis abated. Now it is back, accompanying cooler weather.

From October 2013, the incidence of this virus started to increase and today the frequency is increasing. Information from WHO:

January 12:

• 29 year old man from Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province who became ill on 3 January and was admitted to hospital on 9 January. He is currently in a critical condition. The patient works near to a poultry market.
• 76 year old man from Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province who became ill on 3 January and was admitted to hospital on 9 January. He is currently in a stable condition. The patient had no history of exposure to poultry.

 January 13:

• 34 year old man from Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province who became ill on 1 January and was admitted to hospital on 10 January. He is currently in a serious condition. The patient has a history of exposure to poultry.
• 78 year old man from Yiwu City, Zhejiang Province who became ill on 3 January and was admitted to hospital later that day and later transferred to another hospital on 9 January. He is currently in a critical condition. The patient has a history of exposure to poultry.
• 59 year old woman from Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province who became ill on 5 January and was admitted to hospital on 9 January 2014. She is currently in a serious condition. The patient has a history of exposure to poultry.
• 46 year old man from Foshan City, Guangdong Province who became ill on 6 January and was admitted to hospital on 9 January. He is currently in a critical condition. The patient has a history of exposure to poultry.
• 41 year old woman from Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province who became ill on 7 January 2014 and was admitted to hospital on 11 January. She is currently in a serious condition. The patient has a history of exposure to poultry.
• 28 year old woman from Foshan City, Guangdong Province who became ill on 8 January and was admitted to hospital on 12 January. She has a mild illness. The patient is employed in the poultry sales industry.

 January 14:

• 58-year-old woman from Shanghai who became ill on 1 January and was admitted to hospital on 8 January. She is currently in a critical condition. The patient had a history of exposure to poultry.
• 56-year-old man from Shanghai who became ill on 6 January and was admitted to hospital on 9 January. He is currently in a critical condition. The patient had a history of exposure to poultry.
• 75-year-old woman from Zhuji City, Zhejiang Province who became ill on 1 January, was admitted to hospital on 5 January, and died on 9 January. The patient had a history of exposure to poultry.

 January 16:

• A 29 year old man from Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, who became ill on 2 January and was admitted to hospital on 12 January. He is currently in a serious condition.
• A 58 year old man from Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, who became ill on 6 January and was admitted to hospital on 12 January. He is currently in a critical condition. The patient has a history of exposure to poultry.
• A 50 year old man from Jinjiang City, Fujian Province, who became ill on 5 January and was admitted to hospital on 11 January. He is currently in a critical condition. The patient has a history of exposure to poultry.

 January 17:

• A 35 year old man from Shanghai who became ill on 1 January and was admitted to hospital on 12 January. He is currently in a critical condition. The patient has a history of exposure to poultry.
• A 41 year old man from Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, who became ill on 5 January and was admitted to hospital on 9 January and then transferred to another hospital on 12 January. He is currently in a critical condition.
• A 48 year old man from Foshan City, Guandong Province, who became ill on 2 January and was admitted to hospital on 12 January. He is currently in a critical condition.
• A 55 year old man from Dongguan City, Guandong Province, who became ill on 1 January and was admitted to hospital on 9 January. He is currently in a critical condition. The patient has a history of exposure to poultry.

Source: WHO

Timofei Belov

Pravda.Ru