H7N9

from Dr.Larry MADOFF

ProMed

The news regarding H7N9 influenza coming out of China has been puzzling and fascinating for public health and infectious disease scientists, and worrisome for all. The disease is puzzling because, unlike other strains of avian flu, the current outbreak has been detected more often in humans than birds; humans have been the sentinels of the virus for birds, not vice versa. It is fascinating as the outbreak has spurred new efforts to understand it, and coincided with the publication of important and controversial influenza research. And it is worrisome because all indications lead us to expect another global flu epidemic, if not from this strain then from another. As of the most recent report, a total of 130 cases laboratory confirmed with avian influenza A (H7N9) have been reported to WHO including 31 deaths. It took years for this many human H5N1 cases to be detected.

 

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Protection recommends to "detect early, report early, diagnosis early and treat early severely ill patients with efficacious medicines." Vigilant surveillance remains the best strategy for rapid response, and the ProMED-mail network remains the best, fastest, and most reliable, transparent provider of that vigilance. ProMED has reported on avian influenza 129 times since the beginning of the yea