New Case of H7N9 Bird Flu Confirmed in China

In northern China, a 61-year-old woman was confirmed as having contracted the deadly H7N9 bird flu virus, state media reported.

The woman, from the city of Langfang in Hebei province, developed a cough and fever on July 10 and four later was given a diagnosis of severe pneumonia, the official Xinhua news agency reported, citing a Beijing municipal health bureau statement.

Avian Influenza / Bird Flu-Causes-Symptoms-Treatment- FAQs
Bird flu (avian influenza/avian flu) is a disease caused by an influenza virus (H5N1) that primarily affects birds but can infect humans also.

The woman is receiving emergency treatment in a Beijing hospital, Xinhua said, citing the statement as saying she had frequently purchased vegetables at a local market where live poultry is also on sale.

So far, nine of the woman's family members who have had close contact with her have not exhibited flu symptoms, the report said.

The first human cases of the H7N9 virus were reported in late March and it had infected 132 people in mainland China, killing 43, by the end of June, according to the latest available official figures.

Quiz on Flu
Influenza (or rather, the flu) is a cold weather infectious condition that affects the young and old alike. Though most reported cases are mild, the flu can sometimes cause severe and life-threatening complications in both children and adults, thanks to wrong medications and improper vaccinations. Learn more about the disease from our Flu Quiz and guard yourself and your family from a possible infection.

While new case numbers have dropped off recently, experts remain on guard for fear the virus could mutate into a form easily transmissible between humans, with the potential to trigger a pandemic.

Official media reported Friday that a Chinese woman who spent five weeks in intensive care with H7N9 bird flu had given birth to a girl in what was described as a "miracle" first.

Cases of H7N9 Bird Flu Drug Resistance
A study published by The Lancet said that laboratory tests have confirmed resistance in three people infected with the H7N9 strain of bird flu to a common group of antiviral drugs including Tamiflu.

Source-AFP

H7N9 Bird Flu Kills About 1/3 Hospitalised Patients in China
Researchers who labelled the virus less serious but probably more widespread than previously thought said that the H7N9 bird flu that hit China this year killed over a third of hospitalised patients.