H7N9 case confirmed in Guangdong, China

HONG KONG’S Centre for Health Protection said it received notification from the Guangdong Department of Health that the suspected human case of avian influenza A (H7N9) in Huizhou has been confirmed. The patient is in critical condition.
The Guangdong authorities informed Hong Kong on August 9 that a 51-year-old woman living in Henghezhen, Boluo of Huizhou city, came down with a fever on July 27. She was admitted to Huizhou Municipal Central Hospital on August 3 and was transferred to Guangzhou Medical University's First Affiliated Hospital last night.
The Chinese Center for Disease Control & Prevention confirmed on 10^th August this case as a human case of H7N9.
According to the Guangdong health department, the patient works as a poultry worker at a market in Boluo and has a history of exposure to live poultry. 
The patient's son developed low grade fever last night but tested negative for H7N9. His fever has also subsided. No abnormality was found among other close contacts.
To date, 134 human cases of H7N9 have been laboratory confirmed in the Mainland. Locally, no confirmed cases have been recorded.

Unlike the H5N1 avian flu virus, the effects of H7N9 in poultry are not apparent – making surveillance difficult. Infected poultry can be acting and feeding normally.

Meanwhile, the Centre for Food Safety in Hong Kong said according to the latest information, there are no registered poultry farms or food processing factories that supply live poultry or poultry products to Hong Kong within the 13km radius of Henghezhen.

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