China confirms first human case of H7N4 avian flu
Chinese authorities have confirmed the first human case of H7N4 avian influenza in the coastal province of Jiangsu, which occurred shortly before the start of the country’s long Lunar New Year holiday, The Financial Times reported.
The confirmation came from China’s National Health and Family Planning Commission and was made public by Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection on Wednesday evening.
The case involved a 68-year-old female patient from the city of Liyang in Jiangsu province, who had developed symptoms on December 25, was admitted to hospital on January 1 for treatment and discharged on January 22, according to the NHFPC. The CHP said the case “was confirmed from February 10 to 14”.
The woman in question had contact with live poultry before the onset of symptoms, the CHP said. It added that, according to a report from China’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention, “upon analysis, the genes of the virus were determined to be of avian origin.”
The confirmation comes after the NHFPC reported only one human case of H7N9 bird flu in mainland China for January, compared to 192 cases a year prior.