Message for U.S. Citizens: H7N9

[Randy W]

back in the news

 

Is China Ground Zero for a Future Pandemic? Hundreds there have already died of a new bird flu, putting world health authorities on high alert

 

 

H7N9 first spread from birds to humans in 2013. Since then, there have been five waves of the virus. The fifth wave began in October 2016. By September 2017, it had infected 764 people—far more than any of the four preceding waves. Health officials recently confirmed that there have been 1,589 total cases of H7N9, with 616 of them fatal. “Anytime you have a virus with a 40 percent mortality rate,” says Tim Uyeki, the chief medical officer for the influenza division at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “that’s very, very serious.”

So far, the only verified means by which patients have acquired the virus is through direct exposure to infected animals. But if H7N9 were to mutate further and develop the ability to pass readily from person to person, it could spread rapidly and kill millions of people worldwide.

 

 

[True Blue]

Randy,

 

Be very careful and stay healthy. I'm sure you know how to handle yourself and what foods/restaurants/areas to avoid.

 

Best,

True Blue

[amberjack1234]

Randy,

 

Be very careful and stay healthy. I'm sure you know how to handle yourself and what foods/restaurants/areas to avoid.

 

Best,

True Blue

Dito!!!

[Mick]

You need to be vigilant my friend. Avoid crowds, shady eateries, etc. Is it primarily spread through birds or other critters, like pigs? A 40 percent mortality rate is something that should be taken very seriously.

Edited October 28, 2017 by Mick (see edit history)

[amberjack1234]

You need to be vigilant my friend. Avoid crowds, shady eateries, etc. Is it primarily spread through birds or other critters, like pigs? A 40 percent mortality rate is something that should be taken very seriously.

I was beginning to want to go back but I think that I'll stay right here. It is time to get my Chinese visa renewed in the next couple of months.