China reports 3 human H9N2 avian influenza cases

The World Health Organization (WHO) is reporting three new cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H9N2) virus in China.

The first case is a one-year-old female from Sichuan Province, China, with onset of illness on 30 November 2020. The patient had exposure to backyard poultry.

The second case is a five-year-old female in Anhui Province, China, whose date of onset was 17 January 2021.

The third case is a 2-year-old female in Jiangxi Province, China whose date of onset was 18 January 2021.

All three cases had developed mild illness and recovered, and no additional cases suspected among contacts by the time of reporting.

In most human cases of H9N2 avian flu, the associated disease symptoms have been mild and there has been no evidence of human-to-human transmission. Influenza A(H9N2) viruses are enzootic in poultry populations in parts of Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Most human cases are exposed to the A(H9N2) virus through contact with infected poultry or contaminated environments. Human infection tends to result in mild clinical illness.

A total of 43 cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H9N2) in China have been reported since December 2015.

Courtesy of http://outbreaknewstoday.com/

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