New bird flu strain kills 2 in Shanghai; no vaccine
Staff Reporter 2013-03-31 15:27
Health experts collect blood samples from birds to test for the avian flu. (Photo/CNS)
China's Ministry of Health has confirmed that two people in Shanghai have died from a new subtype of the avian influenza virus — also known as bird flu — for which no vaccine is currently available.
According to a Q&A released on the ministry's website on Sunday, the casualties are the world's first reported cases of the H7N9 influenza virus.
The deceased were members of the same family and were admitted to a Shanghai hospital between February 20 and 25. One of them was reportedly a butcher.
While the patients, aged 87 and 27, passed away early March, the ministry said it did not make the cause of death public until now because the virus was not in its infectious disease monitoring and reporting system. The specific source of the infection is not yet clear.
A third case, a 35-year-old woman from Anhui province in eastern China, is said to be in a serious condition and is undergoing treatment in neighboring Jiangsu province, according to the Centre for Health Protection in Hong Kong.
Authorities said no link has been found between the three patients and almost 90 close contacts of the three had tested negative for the virus.
The ministry said that medical and health institutions in Shanghai and Anhui acted in a timely manner to carry out relevant laboratory screenings as soon as they were alerted. After ruling out seasonal and other viruses, include SARS and and the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu, specimens were sent by the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center to the China Disease Prevention and Control Center on March 22.
The public announcement was made by the ministry in conjunction with the National Health and Family Planning Commission on March 31, two days after the virus strain was confirmed through comprehensive laboratory testing.
Given the limited amount of samples and data available, experts are presently unable to comment on the virulence of the virus and its ability to spread among humans, the ministry said.
To prevent contracting the H7N9 avian flu, health authorities recommended regular hand washing, maintaining general physical health, covering the mouth and nose when sneezing, and avoiding direct contact with sick or dead poultry and livestock.
