• FluTrackers.com Inc. does not provide medical advice. Information on this web site is collected from various internet resources, and the FluTrackers board of directors makes no warranty to the safety, efficacy, correctness or completeness of the information posted on this site by any author or poster. The information collated here is for instructional and/or discussion purposes only and is NOT intended to diagnose or treat any disease, illness, or other medical condition. Every individual reader or poster should seek advice from their personal physician/healthcare practitioner before considering or using any interventions that are discussed on this website. By continuing to access this website you agree to consult your personal physican before using any interventions posted on this website, and you agree to hold harmless FluTrackers.com Inc., the board of directors, the members, and all authors and posters for any effects from use of any medication, supplement, vitamin or other substance, device, intervention, etc. mentioned in posts on this website, or other internet venues referenced in posts on this website.
  • We are not asking for any donations. Do not donate to any entity who says they are raising funds for us.

The Fifth Influenza A(H7N9) Epidemic: A Family Cluster of Infection in Suzhou City of China, 2016

tetano

Editor, Senior Moderator
Int J Infect Dis. 2018 May 5. pii: S1201-9712(18)34406-0. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2018.04.4322. [Epub ahead of print]
[h=1]The Fifth Influenza A(H7N9) Epidemic: A Family Cluster of Infection in Suzhou City of China, 2016.[/h] Wang J[SUP]1[/SUP], Su N[SUP]2[/SUP], Dong Z[SUP]3[/SUP], Liu C[SUP]4[/SUP], Cui P[SUP]5[/SUP], Huang JA[SUP]6[/SUP], Chen C[SUP]7[/SUP], Zhu Y[SUP]8[/SUP], Chen L[SUP]9[/SUP].
[h=3]Author information[/h]

[h=3]Abstract[/h] [h=4]OBJECTIVE:[/h] Influenza A(H7N9) virus is known for its high pathogenicity in human. A family cluster of influenza A(H7N9) virus infection was identified in Suzhou, China. This study aimed to investigate the possibility of human-to-human transmission of the virus and examine the virologic features of this family cluster.
[h=4]METHODS:[/h] The clinical and epidemiologic data of two patients in the family cluster of influenza A(H7N9) virus infection were collected. Viral RNA in samples derived from the two patients, their close contacts, and the environments with likely influenza A(H7N9) virus transmission were tested by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) assay. Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay was used to detect virus-specific antibodies. Genetic sequencing and phylogenetic analysis were also performed.
[h=4]RESULTS:[/h] The index patient (Case 1), a 66-year old man, was virologically diagnosed of influenza A(H7N9) virus infection 12days after experiencing influenza-like symptoms, then died of multi-organ failure. His 39-year old daughter (Case 2), denying any other exposure to influenza A(H7N9) virus, became infected with influenza A(H7N9) virus following taking care of her father during his illness. Sequencing viral genomes isolated from the two patients showed nearly identical nucleotide sequence, and genetically resembled the viral genome isolated from a chicken in the wet market where the index patient once visited. All three influenza A(H7N9) viruses shared S138A, G186V, Q226L mutations in HA (H3) protein and a single basic amino acid (PEIPKGR↓G) at the cleavage site.
[h=4]CONCLUSIONS:[/h] Human-to-human transmission of influenza A(H7N9) virus most likely occurred in this household. The three-amino-acid mutations in HA protein were discovered in this study, which might have increased the binding affinity of influenza A(H7N9) virus to the receptor on trachea epithelial cells to facilitate viral transmission among humans.
Copyright ? 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.


[h=4]KEYWORDS:[/h] family cluster; influenza A(H7N9) virus; the fifth epidemic; transmission

PMID: 29738825 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2018.04.4322
 
Back
Top Bottom