Message for U.S. Citizens: H7N9

[Randy W]

. . . from guangzhouacs - at - state.gov

 

As of April 4, the Chinese authorities confirmed 14 cases of a new strain of avian influenza (H7N9) in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui. A small number of new cases have been reported each day since Sunday, March 31 when three cases were initially reported by the Chinese authorities. Thus far, no human-to-human transmission has been reported and no link has been found between the laboratory-confirmed cases. Individuals in close contact with the infected were tested and the results have all been negative.

The Chinese authorities are actively monitoring and investigating this situation and have heightened disease surveillance. At this point the risk for international disease spread is considered low. The latest advisory from the World Health Organization as of April 4 is that no travel or trade restrictions with China should be applied based on the current information.

How can I protect myself and my family?
Cover the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing.
Wash your hands frequently, especially before and after preparing foods and before eating.
Thoroughly cook all poultry and poultry products, including eggs.
Avoid contact with sick animals and do not go to live animal markets or farms.

What are the signs and symptoms?
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by the flu virus. Flu is different from the cold and the symptoms come on suddenly. Symptoms of fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, headache, body aches are some of the symptoms associated with the flu.

What should I do if I have the flu?
Most individuals who get the flu will recover within a few days but some people can develop complications. Individuals with certain lung problems such as asthma or COPD, those with diabetes, heart disease and those over the age of 65 are at a greater risk of developing complications.

If you do get the flu:
Stay hydrated. If you get sick with flu symptoms and are at high risk of flu complications or you are concerned about your illness, call your health care provider for advice. You should stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other things you have to do and no one else can do for you. You should stay home from work, school, travel, shopping, social events, and public gatherings.

Where can I find more information?
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is following this situation closely and coordinating with domestic and international partners in a number of areas, including gathering more information to make a knowledgeable public health risk assessment and developing a candidate vaccine virus. All of these actions are routine preparedness measures taken whenever a new novel influenza virus is detected in humans.

CDC will provide updated information as it becomes available.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/h7n9-virus.htm
The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention also provides regular updates on the ongoing developments. You can view the information at http://www.chinacdc.cn and http://www.chinacdc.cn/en/ .
We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in China enroll in the Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at https://step.state.gov/step. STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the U.S. Embassy or nearest U.S. Consulate to contact you in an emergency. If you don't have Internet access, enroll directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
Regularly monitor the State Department's website at http://travel.state.gov , where you can find current Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and the Worldwide Caution. Read the Country Specific Information for China at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1089.html . For additional information, refer to "A Safe Trip Abroad" on the State Department's website.
Contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate for up-to-date information on travel restrictions. You can also call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free from within the United States and Canada, or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Follow us on Twitter at https://mobile.twitter.com/travelgov and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/travelgov , and download our free Smart Traveler iPhone App at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/smart-traveler/id442693988?mt=8 to have travel information at your fingertips.
The American Citizen Services unit of the U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou is located at 5/F Tian Yu Garden (II Phase), 136-142 Lin He Zhong Lu, Tianhe District, Guangzhou. For the American Citizen Services operation hours, please refer to our website: http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/contact_us.html . If you are a U.S. citizen in need of urgent assistance, the emergency number for the U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou is (86) (10) 8531-4000.

[Mick]

Thanks for posting this, Randy. We have been staying as aware as possible regarding this, as Li's family lives in both Jiangsu and Anhui. Li spoke with her brother on the phone for a long time last night and, as one might expect, there is a great deal of fear, rumor, panic buying of vinegar, etc. going on. I remember this all too well, as we lived in the area where SARS broke out in early 2003. Let's just pray this thing does not mutate into a form that is capable of airborne infection.

[Randy W]

.

from the Global Times

 

WHO prepares assessment mission

 

A mission from the World Health Organization (WHO) is scheduled to arrive in China within the week for a week-long assessment of the new strain of bird flu, H7N9, in the country, WHO said Tuesday.

 

. . .

 

There have been 77 human infection cases across the country as of late Tuesday, after officials in Shanghai, Zhejiang and Jiangsu detected one, five and three cases respectively on Tuesday.

There were no deaths reported, with the country's total H7N9 death toll remaining at 14.

 

. . .

 

In other developments, a seven-year-old girl who tested positive for the H7N9 avian influenza virus in first human infection case in Beijing, will be discharged from Beijing Ditan Hospital on Wednesday afternoon, local health authorities said Tuesday.

After six days of treatment, the temperature of the girl surnamed Yao has stabilized, and her breathing and blood tests have also improved, said Cheng Jun, spokesman for the hospital.

Yao, has tested negative for the H7N9 virus over the past three days, Cheng said. A four-year-old carrier of the H7N9 virus is also expected to be released soon said Chen Zhihai, director of the hospital's infectious disease department.

 

[Randy W]

Experts unclear how China bird flu infects humans

 

Chinese health officials have said people may be getting sick from direct contact with infected live birds, pointing to cases of patients who have been working in the poultry trade. The virus has been detected in live poultry, leading to mass slaughters and closures of live fowl markets.

 

However, as China continues to report new cases, about 40 percent of patients have no apparent history of exposure to poultry or other birds, making the virus "very difficult to understand," said Dr. Masato Tashiro, director of WHO's influenza research center in Tokyo.

 

Tashiro noted that proof of the assertion that contact with birds is causing the cases is missing. "They didn't show any direct evidence. That's only speculation still. It's possible, likely, but there's no evidence," he said.

 

[Randy W]

The wife says she saw this on the news yesterday (a case of H7N9 in Nanning) - apparently, it's just a rumor

 

http://swineflumagazine.blogspot.com/2013/04/guangxi-nanning-first-case-of-h7n9.html

 

The health department said in Guangxi Nanning, the first case of H7N9 patients "is a rumor

April 21 (Reporter Zhang Ying) the morning of the 20th, Guangxi local network spread a post called "Nanning is the first case of H7N9 patients. In this regard, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Health Department responded that rumor.

　　The regional health department Emergency Management Office, responsible person, at 12 o'clock on the April 20, Guangxi have not yet found of human infection with the H7N9 avian influenza.

.

[NickF]

The wife says she saw this on the news yesterday (a case of H7N9 in Nanning) - apparently, it's just a rumor

 

http://swineflumagazine.blogspot.com/2013/04/guangxi-nanning-first-case-of-h7n9.html

 

The health department said in Guangxi Nanning, the first case of H7N9 patients "is a rumor

April 21 (Reporter Zhang Ying) the morning of the 20th, Guangxi local network spread a post called "Nanning is the first case of H7N9 patients. In this regard, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Health Department responded that rumor.

　　The regional health department Emergency Management Office, responsible person, at 12 o'clock on the April 20, Guangxi have not yet found of human infection with the H7N9 avian influenza.

.

I sure hope it's only a rumor; ChunMei leaves Tuesday for Nanning for a six week visit with her family.

[Randy W]

Just had my first whole BBQ chicken dinner last night since before the outbreak

 

Some poignant pictures

 

Bird flu fears hit poultry industry

http://english.people.com.cn/mediafile/201304/16/F201304160912388302420212.jpg

[Fu Lai]

supposedly cooked meat is safe to eat

[Randy W]

supposedly cooked meat is safe to eat

It's the market you need to watch - with meat going unsold, destroyed, or whatever, you may not be real sure of what you're getting. But I've seen plenty of signs around here that it's stabilizing.

[Randy W]

.

Another H7N9-hit Chinese province ends emergency response

The virus has not been detected among live poultry or inr elevant environments over the past three weeks in Zhejiang, the statement added. The province will continue to closely monitor H7N9.

As of Thursday, a total of 46 human cases of the new strain of avian influenza had been confirmed in Zhejiang. Nine infected people died, 27 recovered and 10 are still being treated in hospitals.

Shanghai, which neighbors Zhejiang, ended its H7N9 emergency response mechanism on May 10, after no new infections were reported in the metropolis over a 20-day period.

 

 

 

[Randy W]

.

China: New Bird Flu Virus Is Controlled, Officials Say

The H7N9 virus appears under control in China largely through restrictions at bird markets, but it caused some $6.5 billion in losses, United Nations experts said Tuesday. The virus infected at least 130 people in China since March, with 36 deaths, but no cases have been detected since early May, China’s health minister said.

 

 

[Randy W]

4 new cases of H7N9 bird flu reported

China has reported more than 100 human H7N9 cases — including more than 20 deaths — this year, mostly in Guangdong and Zhejiang Province.

 

Strengthened prevention and control measures include the closure of live poultry markets in some cities.

 

On Saturday, six new cases and one death were reported.

 

. . .

 

Last Friday, Shanghai halted live poultry trading for three months. The city has reported eight H7N9 infections and four deaths this year.

 

[Randy W]

I'm not sure which strain they're on these days (H10N13 ??), but here's the latest from the Shanghaiist -

 

79 people killed in January by bird flu in China's worst outbreak on record

 

http://shanghaiist.com/attachments/alexlinder/poultry-market-front.jpg

 

The bird flu season this year is already shaping up to be the most terrifying in China on record with the virus infecting 192 people and killing 79 in January alone

.

That number far outpaces the January death tolls in recent years, which have ranged between 20 and 31 people, and has skyrocketed since two deaths and seven infections alarmed the country back in December. The total number of those killed by the virus since October is now up to 100, along with 306 people infected, Reuters reports, citing data from China's National Health and Family Planning Commission.

This revelation has caused Chinese chicken prices to drop to their lowest level in more than a decade, placing China's poultry producers in a precarious situation.

 

. . .

 

Last week, Guangzhou officials advised residents to avoid contact with any live poultry after one-third of poultry markets in the city were found to be contaminated with bird flu.

 

[Randy W]

From the Reuter's article they quoted, it looks like it's still H7N9

 

China bird flu deaths surge in what could be the worst season ever

 

. . . and the Global Times

 

China reports 192 H7N9 infections, 79 deaths in January

 

Edited February 16, 2017 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

. . . and the Russian Times

 

‘Largest pandemic in 100 years’ threatens China as bird flu spreads

China could be facing the worst bout of bird flu to hit the country in a century, with Avian Influenza A(H7N9) accounting for the deaths of 79 people in January from the 192 human cases reported so far.

The outbreak has been described as the “worst season since the virus first appeared in the country in 2013,” by members of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Guan Yi, an expert in emerging viral diseases at the University of Hong Kong in China, said the surge in human cases is a cause for grave concern. "We are facing the largest pandemic threat in the last 100 years," he told Science.

Between December 20, 2016 and January 16, 2017, a total of 918 laboratory-confirmed cases of human infections as well as 359 deaths from H7N9 worldwide have been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO).