Limited human-to-human bird flu transmission possible: China

Limited human-to-human bird flu transmission possible: China

Staff Reporter 

2014-01-28

Limited, single human-to-human transmission of the H7N9 bird flu cannot yet be ruled out, according to a newly issued plan for human H7N9 infection diagnosis and treatment from China’s National Health and Family Planning Commission.

The plan, released on Sunday, made the conclusion despite the fact that the majority of human H7N9 infections are sporadic and that there has so far been no evidence for consistent human-to-human infection. This has led H7N9 to be reclassified from an “acute respiratory disease” to “acute respiratory infection,” which a spokesperson from the Beijing Disease Prevention and Control Center says better reflects the nature of the virus.

The incubation period for the potentially deadly virus has also been shortened from a week to just three to four days, meaning local hospitals will now shorten the quarantine period for those with close contact to patients to just four days.

The new plan, which will provide guidance for H7N9 diagnosis and treatment, has confirmed that virus is spread to humans via the respiratory tract or through close contact with infected poultry secretions or excretions, or direct contact with an infected environment. Unlike the previous version of the plan, it is now recognized that contact with poultry cages or other containers, or even soil or air, could lead to infection.

Symptoms of H7N9 outlined in the new plan are said to be similar to influenza, including fever, cough, phlegm, headaches, muscle pain and diarrhea. Serious cases could develop into severe pneumonia in three to seven days. Treatment is most effective within the first 48 hours after the onset of symptoms.

The plan also identified the elderly as particularly susceptible to the virus as statistics from the 200 or so cases across China show that more than half of the victims are of an advanced age.

The commission added on Monday that sporadic H7N9 cases will likely continue in some cities and urged local health departments to strengthen prevention and control measures and ensure the implementation of them during the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year holiday.

According to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the H7N9 bird flu has killed 19 people in China since the start of the year, with a total number of 96 human infections during the period.

Live poultry trading has been halted in the cities of Hangzhou, Ningbo and Jinhua in eastern China’s Zhejiang province, which has reported 49 human H7N9 infections, including 12 deaths this year.

Neighboring Shanghai will also halt live poultry trading from Jan. 31 to April 30 and strengthen surveillance of the local poultry industry. The city has reported eight human H7N9 infections in January, including four deaths.

Meanwhile, southern China’s Guangdong province has reported 26 new H7N9 cases and four deaths this month. Hong Kong health authorities also confirmed one H7N9 case at a local agricultural market and will cull about 20,000 birds in the market on Tuesday morning.

A vaccine being developed by Hualan Biological Bacterin has reportedly passed an initial examination and is being handled by the food and drug watchdog in central China’s Henan province, though the official release of an H7N9 vaccine to the public is believed to be far away.