Giuseppe
Emeritus
[Source: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), full page: (LINK). Edited.]
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Updated ECDC risk assessment on avian influenza A(H7N9) virus in China
08 May 2013
Today, ECDC is publishing a second update of its rapid risk assessment on avian influenza A(H7N9) virus in China to take account of latest developments. However, the overall assessment of the risk to Europe remains unchanged.
As of 1 May, there were 128 laboratory-confirmed cases, including 26 deaths reported from eight neighbouring provinces (Anhui, Fujian, Henan, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shandong, and Zhejiang) and two municipalities (Beijing and Shanghai). One case who acquired his infection in Jiangsu travelled to Taiwan before developing illness.
A few small clusters were detected but almost all cases have occurred sporadically, without obvious epidemiological links.
While occasional human-to-human transmission in the clusters cannot be ruled out, there is certainly no confirmation of sustained human-to-human transmission.
ECDC stresses that EU citizens living or working in China should avoid live-bird markets. It is likely that travellers who become infected in China may import the disease to Europe.
However, the occurrence of imported cases would not change ECDC?s risk assessment.
-08 May 2013
Today, ECDC is publishing a second update of its rapid risk assessment on avian influenza A(H7N9) virus in China to take account of latest developments. However, the overall assessment of the risk to Europe remains unchanged.
As of 1 May, there were 128 laboratory-confirmed cases, including 26 deaths reported from eight neighbouring provinces (Anhui, Fujian, Henan, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shandong, and Zhejiang) and two municipalities (Beijing and Shanghai). One case who acquired his infection in Jiangsu travelled to Taiwan before developing illness.
A few small clusters were detected but almost all cases have occurred sporadically, without obvious epidemiological links.
While occasional human-to-human transmission in the clusters cannot be ruled out, there is certainly no confirmation of sustained human-to-human transmission.
ECDC stresses that EU citizens living or working in China should avoid live-bird markets. It is likely that travellers who become infected in China may import the disease to Europe.
However, the occurrence of imported cases would not change ECDC?s risk assessment.
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