WHO urges China to watch for spread of H7N9 among humans
February 27, 2017 Category Health, Weekly
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on Beijing to monitor whether the H7N9 bird flu virus gains the ability of sustained human-to-human transmission following reports of limited cases. The virus so far has not spread among humans in most cases. From January 1 until February 23, 94 deaths from H7N9 have been reported in China. Most human cases have been traced to exposure or contact with sick poultry. In a small number of cases, individuals were infected by limited, non-sustained human-to-human transmission of the virus. This could occur after prolonged, close, unprotected contact between individuals, the WHO said. “Authorities should be vigilant, and assess whether the virus gains the ability of sustained human-to-human spread,” said Bernhard Schwartländer, WHO’s Representative in China.
Chinese health authorities have issued stern warnings over the H7N9 bird flu outbreak last week, admitting the situation had already affected half of the country and could lead to even more fatalities. Since January, human deaths and infections from H7N9 have been reported in 16 provinces and municipalities. The virus had killed at least 87 people by February 12, including 79 in January. In the previous three years, January’s death toll had ranged between 20 and 31.
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