The H7N9 avian flu outbreak has spread to 3 more Chinese provinces, but no new cases have been reported since 7 May 2013. Since then, however, the epidemic has gone into a lull, with just one person falling ill with H7N9 since the start of May 2013. The drop might reflect that the authorities’ control measures, such as the closure of live bird markets, are working, but it is also possible that the epidemic will [...]
H7N9 – It’s complicated
Findings The novel avian influenza A H7N9 virus originated from multiple reassortment events. The HA gene might have originated from avian influenza viruses of duck origin, and the NA gene might have transferred from migratory birds infected with avian influenza viruses along the east Asian flyway. The 6 internal genes of this virus probably originated from 2 different groups of H9N2 avian influenza viruses, which were isolated from chickens. Detailed analyses also showed that ducks [...]
H7N9 US Customs Seize Chickens In Cooler From Vietnam
20 Chickens…In A Cooler?!?!?! Really!?!??! From Vietnam! Yikes! US Customs seized 20 defeathered Chinese Silkies, a white fluffy variety of chicken known for being both great pets and great eating out of a cooler in a Vietnamese passengers luggage. The meat was the color of a bruise, a dark, blueish-gray. In the end, the April 22 incident was a case of no harm, no foul. Customs said the passenger who was stopped may have made [...]
CDC issues a new MMWR on H7N9
Emergence of Avian Influenza A(H7N9) Virus Causing Severe Human Illness — China, February–April 2013 CDC just issued a new Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report better known as MMWR today on the emerging health risk known to us as H7N9. On March 29, 2013, the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed three human infections with an avian influenza A(H7N9) virus. The cases, which were reported to the World Health Organization on April 1, occurred [...]
