Taiwan - confirmed first human H7N9 infection - patient returned from Shuzou

[tetano]

Station news, Taiwan have confirmed first H7N9 avian flu patients, now patients have been sent to a specialized hospital for treatment.
Taiwan 'disease tube Council' just confirmed, first H7N9 avian influenza confirmed disease patients, is one in Suzhou work of 53 age male, April 23 from Suzhou back Taiwan, appeared fever, and cough, and flow nasal water, symptoms, in entry Taoyuan airport Shi is stopped Xia, Hou directly sent to Taiwan North task force hospital mining seized treatment, seized body in slightly early baked, confirmed is contracted H7N9, became Taiwan first case.
advertisement code beginadvertisement code end 'CDC' urgently convene a meeting of experts in the afternoon.

http://news.xhby.net/system/2013/04/24/017022046.shtml

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Taiwan confirmed its first human infection H7N9 patient returned from Suzhou

Taiwan's first case of imported H7N9 influenza confirmed cases, to remind people to H7N9 flu cases have occurred District should maintain good health habits, not any touch with the feeding of live birds, and avoid to the tradition of live poultry market

Subscribe to RSS focus of the Department of Health news

filing time: 2013/04/24 17:47:12
Updated Date: 2013/04/24 17:53:41


Command center today (4/24) evening just confirmed an imported cases of H7N9 flu. The case of a 53-year-old male of the nationality, before the onset of work in Suzhou, Jiangsu, to return to Taiwan for three days after the onset, the test results determined at 4/24 cases of serious illness, and continued medical treatment in the intensive care unit in the negative pressure isolation.
Wen-Ta Chiu, director of the Department of Health, the commander Zhang Fengyi for the status of the epidemic have been fully grasp, and disposal as made instructions. The command center had earlier informed through the IHR WHO and notified in accordance with the cross-strait medical and health cooperation agreement in mainland China Contact window.
Command center, said The patient is a hepatitis B carrier, high blood pressure, and long-term work in Suzhou, Jiangsu between Suzhou and Taiwan. The patient to Suzhou, 3/28 to 4/9 4/9 returned to Taiwan from Shanghai, the case during the Suzhou history of exposure to birds, no consumption of immature birds or egg. 4/12 began to have fever, night sweats, fatigue, respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms, 4/16 due to high fever clinic, clinic physicians recommended referral then to a hospital emergency room and stay in a single ward, in 4/16 Tamiflu, 4/18 chest X-light right lower lobe interstitial infiltrates, then transferred to a medical center in 4/20 4/19 due to disease progression at night due to respiratory failure catheter into the intensive care unit negative pressure isolation, during which the two mining throat swabs sent for testing H7N9 influenza tests were negative. The present H7N9 positive by RT-PCR sputum inspection the morning of 4/24, 4/24 evening Genome Sequencing confirmed by the National Influenza Center.
The command center also stressed that cases and contacts have been mastered; contact a total of 139 people, including close contacts, 110 General contact 26 people (more than 7 days incubation period) and the hospital staff. Hospital staff has more than 4 latency (asymptomatic), only three people not wearing appropriate protective (track has average daily symptoms, to be followed until 4/27), and the other suitable protective of care work, 3 of upper respiratory tract symptoms in hospital staff. Public health workers for all contacts caught given adequate health education and self-health management of the H7N9 flu notice, and take the initiative to track to lift tube, contact the flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, public health workers will also take the initiative to help medical treatment.
Command center last as fever, cough, and 7 days to regions of H7N9 influenza cases have occurred in mainland China (Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Beijing, Henan, Shandong Province) tourists, strengthen quarantine. And once again remind physicians, the case of these patients, informed within 24 hours in accordance with the law; cases determined before diagnosis, severe cases should be place in hospital isolation and treatment of patients with mild can collect specimens from the hospital self- health management, but are subject to wear masks and give appropriate health education should be given to determine whether anti-flu Pharmacy. If it is determined that the H7N9 infection assessment by the commander to the appropriate hospital for isolation and treatment.
Command center called on again: people go areas in mainland China H7N9 influenza cases, health habits should be kept to wash their hands, wear a mask, do not arbitrarily touch and feed the birds, to avoid to the traditional markets of live poultry, consumption of poultry meat and eggs Be sure to cook; After returning to China, such as fever, cough and other symptoms, wearing masks for medical treatment, and doctor travel history. Latest outbreak, and tourism and other related infectious diseases information, refer to the CDC website (http://www.cdc.gov.tw) "H7N9 flu zone" and "tourist information" area, or call toll-free people Outbreak Alert and Care number 1922 contact, such as the phone can not dial the short code phone number, please dial 0800-001922 epidemic prevention line.




H7N9 notified cases in the statistics (statistics to April 24, 2011 5:00 pm). Doc

http://www.doh.gov.tw/CHT2006/DM/DM2_p01.aspx?class_no=25&level_no=1&doc_no=88269

[Treyfish]

Re: Taiwan confirmed its first human infection H7N9 patient returned from Suzhou

The first imported human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) confirmed in Taiwan; Travelers visiting areas affected by H7N9 advised to practice good personal hygiene, avoid touching and feeding live poultry, and avoid visiting traditional markets with live poultry( 2013-04-24 )


In the late afternoon of April 24, 2013, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) confirmed the first imported case of H7N9 avian influenza in a 53-year-old male Taiwanese citizen who worked in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China prior to illness onset. He developed his illness three days after returning to Taiwan. Infection with avian influenza A (H7N9) was confirmed on April 24, 2013. The patient is currently in a severe condition and being treated in a negative-pressure isolation room.
Minister of Health, Dr. Wen-Ta Chiu, and Commander of CECC, Dr. Feng-Yee Chang, have full knowledge of the situation and have instructed implementation of subsequent prevention and control measures. In addition, CECC has reported the case to the World Health Organization through the IHR Focal Point. Furthermore, according to the Cross-strait Cooperation Agreement on Medicine and Public Health Affairs, CECC has also reported the case to the contact point in China
CECC indicated that the case is a hepatitis B carrier with history of hypertension. Due to the fact that he worked in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province before his illness, he had been traveling back and forth regularly between Suzhou and Taiwan for a long time. During March 28 and April 9, 2013, the patient traveled to Suzhou. On April 9, he returned to Taiwan from Shanghai. According to the case, he had not been exposed to birds and poultry during his stay in Suzhou and had not consumed undercooked poultry or eggs. On April 12, he developed fever, sweating, and fatigue, but no respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms. On April 16, he sought medical attention at a clinic when he developed high fever and was transferred to a hospital by the physician. He was then hospitalized in a single-patient room for further treatment. On April 16, he was administered Tamiflu. On April 18, his chest x-ray showed interstitial infiltrate in the right lower lung. On the night of April 19, his conditions worsened. On April 20, he was transferred to a medical center for further treatment. He was then intubated due to respiratory failure and placed in the negative-pressure isolation room in the intensive care unit. During his stay in the hospitals, two throat swab specimens were collected and both tested negative for avian influenza A (H7N9) virus by real-time RT-PCR. On April 22, the medical center collected a sputum specimen from the patient and the specimen was tested positive for influenza A. In the morning of April 24, avian influenza A (H7N9) virus was detected in the sputum specimen using real-time RT-PCR. In the later afternoon of April 24, the National Influenza Center in Taiwan confirmed the identification and completed the genome sequencing of the virus.
At the time of writing, CECC has obtained the list of 138 people who have come into contact with the confirmed case, including 3 close contacts, 26 regular contacts (past the 7-day incubation period), and 109 healthcare workers, for investigation and follow-up activities. Of the 109 healthcare workers, 4 have passed the 7-day incubation period and shown no symptoms. Only three contacts failed to put on appropriate personal protective equipment when the contact occurred. Thus far, the three have not developed symptoms, but they will be followed up until April 27, 2013. On the other hand, while delivering healthcare services, three healthcare workers who were geared with appropriate personal protective equipment developed symptoms of upper respiratory infection. The public health authority have conducted thorough health education activities for all contacts, issued them with ?Self-Health Management Advice for H7N9 Influenza?, and will be following up with them closely until the period of voluntary contact tracing is lifted. When a contact develops influenza-like illness symptoms such as fever and cough, the public health authority will voluntarily assist the individual in seeking medical attention.
CECC has continued to strengthen surveillance and fever screening of travelers arriving from China, especially areas with ongoing outbreaks of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9), including Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Beijing, Henan and Shandong. Physicians are once again reminded to report suspected cases to the health authority within 24 hours of detection according to the relevant regulation. Before the infection is confirmed, please manage the case according to the following: a suspect case-patient with severe respiratory infections should be hospitalized in isolation for treatment. A suspect case-patient with mild symptoms should be asked to conduct self-health management and put on a surgical mask, and provided with thorough health education. Further, specimens should be collected from the patient for laboratory testing and the need for administering antivirals should be determined. If human infection with avian influenza A (H7N9) is later confirmed, an appropriate hospital for isolation and treatment will be determined by the Regional Commander of CECC.
CECC once again urges travelers visiting China to practice good personal hygiene such as washing hands frequently and putting on a mask, take preventive measures such as avoiding direct contact with poultry and birds or their droppings, avoiding visiting traditional markets with live poultry, consuming only thoroughly cooked poultry and eggs. If symptoms such as fever and cough develop after returning to Taiwan, please put on a surgical mask and seek immediate medical attention. Moreover, please inform the physician of the recent travel history to facilitate diagnosis and treatment. For more information, please call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Care Hotline, 1922, or 0800-001922 if calling from a cell phone, or visit the Taiwan CDC?s website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw. http://www.cdc.gov.tw/english/info.a...D2943FEE3FCB75

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Taiwan confirmed its first human infection H7N9 patient returned from Suzhou

Worth noting at this point that Jiangsu has not provided an H7N9 update since April 20th.

http://www.jswst.gov.cn/gb/jsswst/wsyw/index.html

[tetano]

Re: Taiwan confirmed its first human infection H7N9 patient returned from Suzhou

Taiwan's first case of human infection found H7N9 avian flu-BBC Chinese-Taiwan


One used to work in mainland China, Taiwan men on Wednesday (April 24) were confirmed H7N9 avian flu. This is Taiwan's first cases were detected. this situation is Taiwan released by the Central epidemics command center. Taiwan health authorities said that this 53 year old Taiwan man working in Suzhou in mainland China, on April 23, just returned from the Suzhou Taiwan. the man developed symptoms of fever, cough and other symptoms at the Taoyuan airport when therapy was stopped and taken to the hospital. testing confirmed that the man was infected with H7N9 avian flu.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/china/2013/04/130424_brief_taiwan_birdflu.shtml

[Giuseppe]

Re: Taiwan confirmed its first human infection H7N9 patient returned from Suzhou

The timing of confirmation is challenging:

Source: RTHK, http://rthk.hk/rthk/news/englishnews..._56_917512.htm


First H7N9 case in Taiwan

24-04-2013


Taiwan has reported the first case of H7N9 bird flu outside of the mainland.

A 53-year-old man, who had been working in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou, showed symptoms three days after returning to Taiwan via Shanghai.

The Centres for Disease Control said that he had been in hospital since April 16 and was in a critical condition.


-
-----

[kiwibird]

Re: Taiwan - 3 hospital staff with contact of H7N9 patient show symptoms

3 hospital staff show symptoms of flu after contact with H7N9 patient.

http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201304240039.aspx

[Pathfinder]

Re: Taiwan - confirmed first human H7N9 infection - patient returned from Shuzou

Translation Google

H7N9 first suffering from severe pneumonia, MD: To support than the virus for a long time

2013 04 24, 22:27

Taiwan today, the outbreak of the first case of imported H7N9 patients, the hospital is to treat the expert analysis, patients with severe pneumonia, the course of the disease and the patients exactly the same, you may need 1 month of treatment.

"Central News Agency" reports related to physicians revealed that patients with respiratory failure, pneumonia, serious, negative pressure hospital intensive care unit intubation for respiratory therapy, the use of antiviral drugs necessary, the physician will use injections to inhibit the H7N9 a large number of avian influenza virus replication.

The 53-year-old patient of hepatitis B carriers, medical treatment and taking "Tamiflu", 4 days after the onset of, after the condition deteriorated rapidly as pneumonia.

Related physician stressed that patients taking Tamiflu or two days late, but he will be in the hospital receive the best care, according to the patient treatment experience, it normally takes 2-4 weeks of hospitalization.

The doctor said, the influenza virus invade the body, the viral replication peak period for 2-4 weeks, the patient must make it longer than the virus, will win this battle ".

http://www.appledaily.com.tw/realtimenews/article/life/20130424/176722/H7N9%E9%A6%96%E6%82%A3%E8%82%BA%E7%82%8E%E5%9A%B4%E9%87%8D%E3%80%80%E9%86%AB%E5%B8%AB%EF%BC%9A%E8%A6%81%E6%92%90%E6%AF%94%E7%97%85%E6%AF%92%E4%B9%85

[Pathfinder]

Re: Taiwan - confirmed first human H7N9 infection - patient returned from Shuzou

Translation Google

H7N9 tricky 2 degrees were not detected

22:51:19

(Central News Agency reporters Chen Qingfang 24, 2009), a Taiwanese fever, oropharyngeal 2 tests are negative for H7N9 ferret out the virus, and finally in the sputum of pneumonia shortly after returning to Taiwan from Jiangsu.

The epidemic survey shows that Taiwan businessmen to return to Taiwan for 3 days, April 12 fever, night sweats, fatigue, proposed by the clinic physician referral to a private hospital, to start taking antiviral drugs "Tamiflu" on the 16th, followed by pneumonia illness deterioration, in the early morning of the 20th transferred to a public hospital, negative pressure isolation intensive care unit treatment, the patient's throat during specimen not detected the H7N9 avian influenza virus.

National Laboratory, an experience to experience, test a variety of samples, double confirmation until today to nucleic acid test RT-PCR, virus genome RNA test does exist in the sputum of patients with H7N9.

Central Epidemic Command Center To this end meetings of experts on virology, clinical pathology and outbreak investigation, diagnosed patients.

Which experience no reason that the characteristics of H7N9, said Li-Min Huang, National Taiwan University Children's Hospital, director of infection, the H7N9 virus runs through the lower respiratory tract of the patient, resulting lobe soak in the sputum of a virus, viruses, however, the upper respiratory tract ability poor oropharyngeal not find the traces of the virus, but, fortunately, the patients encountered by physicians are highly alert to the control of infection.

Too typical symptoms of the patients (H7N9), "said Li-Min Huang, not only Taiwanese sputum H7N9 virus viral gene homologous gene and the mainland and Taiwan infection worsen pneumonia, cough, runny nose, upper respiratory tract infection obvious symptoms, which is similar to the development of clinical symptoms of the patient and the mainland.

Taiwanese no contact with poultry during the Jiangsu, Shanghai, and exactly where to infection? Ho Mei, Li-Min Huang and researcher at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Jiangsu cases of H7N9 areas of mainland China, Taiwan and the birds had indirect contact with the virus may hide in the vegetable market.

Ho Mei Taiwanese visiting the markets or encountered shopped in the vegetable market, a vendor come into contact with H7N9 pollution, the environment, items, may be so infected with a virus.

Li-Min Huang, for example, H7N9 exists in poultry manure, and then come in contact with the feathers and body the birds chicken vendors touched with the virus, without washing their hands, go out and find the money, the money of the customers do not consciously rubbing his eyes , nose, mouth, virus from mucosal invasion, latent 7-10 days after onset.

Due to the virus skips oropharyngeal Zhixi the characteristics of the lungs, Li-Min Huang and Ho Mei-virus infectivity is limited, less likely to droplet infection by nasal discharge, saliva, because of the possibility of contagious, wear generally flat masks, washing hands frequently, can prevent infection.

http://www.cna.com.tw/News/aOPL/201304240442-1.aspx

[tetano]

Re: Taiwan - confirmed first human H7N9 infection - patient returned from Shuzou

Published Date: 2013-04-24 09:50:53
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza, human (58): (Taiwan ex China) H7N9 update
Archive Number: 20130424.1669273

AVIAN INFLUENZA, HUMAN (58): (TAIWAN ex CHINA) H7N9 UPDATE
************************************************** *********
A ProMED-mail post

http://www.promedmail.org

ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases

http://www.isid.org

Date: 24 Apr 2013
Source: Centers for Disease Control, ROC (Taiwan) press release [edited]

http://www.cdc.gov.tw/english/info.aspx?treeid=BC2D4E89B154059B&nowtreeid=EE0A2987CFBA3222&tid=DCD2943FEE3FCB75

The first imported human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) confirmed in Taiwan
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Travelers visiting areas affected by H7N9 advised to practice good personal hygiene, avoid touching and feeding live poultry, and avoid visiting traditional markets with live poultry


In the late afternoon of 24 Apr 2013, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) confirmed the first imported case of H7N9 avian influenza in a 53-year-old male Taiwanese citizen who worked in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China prior to illness onset. He developed his illness 3 days after returning to Taiwan. Infection with avian influenza A (H7N9) was confirmed on 24 Apr 2013. The patient is currently in a severe condition and being treated in a negative-pressure isolation room [which ensures all air is exhausted through a HEPA (virus) filter. - Mod.JW].

Minister of Health, Dr. Wen-Ta Chiu, and Commander of CECC, Dr. Feng-Yee Chang, have full knowledge of the situation and have instructed implementation of subsequent prevention and control measures. In addition, CECC has reported the case to the World Health Organization through the IHR Focal Point. Furthermore, according to the Cross-strait Cooperation Agreement on Medicine and Public Health Affairs, CECC has also reported the case to the contact point in China.

CECC indicated that the case is a hepatitis B carrier with history of hypertension. Due to the fact that he worked in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province before his illness, he had been traveling back and forth regularly between Suzhou and Taiwan for a long time. During 28 March and 9 Apr 2013, the patient traveled to Suzhou.

On 9 April, he returned to Taiwan from Shanghai. According to the case, he had not been exposed to birds and poultry during his stay in Suzhou and had not consumed undercooked poultry or eggs.

On 12 April, he developed fever, sweating, and fatigue, but no respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms.

On 16 April, he sought medical attention at a clinic when he developed high fever and was transferred to a hospital by the physician. He was then hospitalized in a single-patient room for further treatment. On 16 April, he was administered Tamiflu.

On 18 April, his chest x-ray showed interstitial infiltrate in the right lower lung.

On the night of 19 April, his conditions worsened.

On April 20, he was transferred to a medical center for further treatment. He was then intubated due to respiratory failure and placed in the negative-pressure isolation room in the intensive care unit. During his stay in the hospitals, 2 throat swab specimens were collected and both tested negative for avian influenza A (H7N9) virus by real-time RT-PCR.

On 22 April, the medical center collected a sputum specimen from the patient and the specimen was tested positive for influenza A.

In the morning of 24 April, avian influenza A (H7N9) virus was detected in the sputum specimen using real-time RT-PCR. In the later afternoon of April 24, the National Influenza Center in Taiwan confirmed the identification and completed the genome sequencing of the virus.

At the time of writing, CECC has obtained the list of 139 people who have come into contact with the confirmed case, including 3 close contacts, 26 regular contacts (past the 7-day incubation period), and 110 healthcare workers, for investigation and follow-up activities. Of the 110 healthcare workers, 4 have passed the 7-day incubation period and shown no symptoms. Only 3 contacts failed to put on appropriate personal protective equipment when the contact occurred. Thus far, the 3 have not developed symptoms, but they will be followed up until 27 Apr 2013.

On the other hand, while delivering healthcare services, 3 healthcare workers who were geared with appropriate personal protective equipment developed symptoms of upper respiratory infection. The public health authority have conducted thorough health education activities for all contacts, issued them with "Self-Health Management Advice for H7N9 Influenza", and will be following up with them closely until the period of voluntary contact tracing is lifted. When a contact develops influenza-like illness symptoms such as fever and cough, the public health authority will voluntarily assist the individual in seeking medical attention.

CECC has continued to strengthen surveillance and fever screening of travelers arriving from China, especially areas with ongoing outbreaks of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9), including Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Beijing, Henan and Shandong. Physicians are once again reminded to report suspected cases to the health authority within 24 hours of detection according to the relevant regulation.

Before the infection is confirmed, please manage the case according to the following: a suspect case-patient with severe respiratory infections should be hospitalized in isolation for treatment. A suspect case-patient with mild symptoms should be asked to conduct self-health management and put on a surgical mask, and provided with thorough health education. Further, specimens should be collected from the patient for laboratory testing and the need for administering antivirals should be determined. If human infection with avian influenza A (H7N9) is later confirmed, an appropriate hospital for isolation and treatment will be determined by the Regional Commander of CECC.

CECC once again urges travelers visiting China to practice good personal hygiene such as washing hands frequently and putting on a mask, take preventive measures such as avoiding direct contact with poultry and birds or their droppings, avoiding visiting traditional markets with live poultry, consuming only thoroughly cooked poultry and eggs. If symptoms such as fever and cough develop after returning to Taiwan, please put on a surgical mask and seek immediate medical attention. Moreover, please inform the physician of the recent travel history to facilitate diagnosis and treatment.

***For more information, please call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Care Hotline, 1922, or 0800-001922 if calling from a cell phone, or visit the Taiwan CDC's website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw.

--
Communicated by:
Angela Song-En Huang, MD MPH
Taiwan Centers for Disease Control
<huang.songen@gmail.com>

[This case was infected in the Shanghai area. There must be many more commuters like him being exposed on the mainland every day.

Ryan McGinnis sent in a report of this press release from today's South China Morning post which included "Earlier this month [April 2013] Taiwanese authorities destroyed more than 100 birds smuggled from the mainland and seized by the coastguard in a fishing port in northern Taiwan."

An HealthMap interactive map of Taiwan is at:
http://healthmap.org/r/1ob5.- Mod.JW]

http://www.promedmail.org/direct.php?id=20130424.1669273

[Giuseppe]

Re: Taiwan - confirmed first human H7N9 infection - patient returned from Shuzou

We have a patient with severe pneumonia, with probale onset in the first decade of April; hospitalized and treated with oseltamivir since April 16.

If it was swabbed during initial antiviral suppression, the results may have had turned false negative, taking into account the hyperinflmmatory response and the widespread tissue damage, making the samples full of decaying cells and White blood cells.

When the illness advanced the possible selection of resistant subspecies may have resulted in higher viral load and then positive tests.

The presence of URI cases between HCWs may signal a h2h transmission but they could also returned negative to tests.

Many unknowns, few answers.

[JimO]

Re: Taiwan - 3 hospital staff with contact of H7N9 patient show symptoms

If these staff members are confirmed with H7N9, that would be a red flag for two reasons: first, it would confirm H2H transmission in a health care setting; and second, no health care workers in mainland China were reported to have gotten sick to my knowledge. So, either the Chinese government has not been forthcoming with respect to evidence of H2H transmission, or the virus has acquired the ability to more effectively transmit H2H.

3 hospital staff show symptoms of flu after contact with H7N9 patient.

http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201304240039.aspx

[curiosity]

Re: Taiwan - confirmed first human H7N9 infection - patient returned from Shuzou

Since they are HCW, the likeliness the respiratory virus is H7N9 is still considerably lower than the probability that it is another respiratory virus - adenovirus, rhinovirus, etc... all of which HCW are exposed to ALL the time - usually without specialized protection.

That the virus was not originally detected in the patient by pharyngeal swab and later located only in lower lung sputum is a positive sign - maybe a good indication the virus has not adapted enough to replicate in the human upper airway therefore preventing "easy" transmission.

[Giuseppe]

Re: Taiwan - confirmed first human H7N9 infection - patient returned from Shuzou

These three HCWs wore full PPE!

They are suffering of URI!

We have to await PCR or serum samples results or clinical condition development toward severe acute respiratory infection.

[curiosity]

Re: Taiwan - confirmed first human H7N9 infection - patient returned from Shuzou

These three HCWs wore full PPE!

They are suffering of URI!

We have to await PCR or serum samples results or clinical condition development toward severe acute respiratory infection.

Yes. They wore PPE with the H7N9 patient from China.

I was addressing the PPE they did not wear for the other hospital patients complaining of URI. URI is a common complaint in hospitals. And, if they are only being cautious with people from China - there are a many more people that could have given them a different URI causing virus.

H7N9 should ABSOLUTELY be suspected in these cases, but I think the possibility they have a different respiratory virus is more likely - and is a positive hope for this situation.