H7N9 Spread To Fujian Province

Recombinomics Commentary 13:00
April 26, 2013

Fujian Province confirmed case of human infection with H7N9 avian influenza. Patients Luomou, male, 65 years old, Yongding County, Longyan City, Fujian Beizhen. On April 18 patients no obvious incentive to repeated coughing, with active chest tightness, fever. At 14:50 on the 23rd "cough, sputum, fever, shortness of breath two days," the chief complaint of stay in Longyan City Hospital. The provinces and expert consultation diagnosis of severe pneumonia, human infection of H7N9 avian influenza be diagnosed. Given anti-viral treatment, non-invasive respiratory support and comprehensive treatment of Chinese medicine, the condition has improved.

Chinese Center for Disease Control at 11 o'clock on the April 26 review of test results for the H7N9 avian influenza virus nucleic acid positive.

The above translation describes the first confirmed H7N9 bird flu case in Fujian province.  This case (65M) represents a significant geographic spread.  This week cases were reported for the first time in Shandongand Jiangxi Provinces, which represented an incremental spread.  Similarly, the detection of the case in Taiwan represented an infection that originated in Jiangsu, just north of Shanghai.

However, the confirmation of H7N9 represents a significant jump, and the upcoming May 1 travel will likely spread H7N9 throughout China and beyond.
 
Although the sequences from human cases are closely related to those found in birds in live markets, the human PB2 sequences contain mammalian adaptation changes (E627K or D701N) signaling human to human transmission.  

The movement of such changes to Fujian Province raises serious pandemic concerns.