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January 6, 2014

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H7N9 detected in Guangzhou poultry market

Source: Xinhua | January 6, 2014, Monday | Print Edition

Samples of goose meat taken from a Guangzhou market in south China’s Guangdong Province have tested positive for H7N9 avian influenza.

Two goose meat samples and one sewage water sample from two poultry booths in a wet market in Zengcheng, a satellite city of Guangzhou, tested positive, Guangdong Provincial Center of Disease Control and Prevention confirmed yesterday.

“It’s serious that the water sample test is positive, as it means all the birds in coops have the possibility of being infected with H7N9 avian influenza. The longer they stay in the coops, the risk of being infected rises,” said Yang Zhicong, deputy chief of the Guangzhou municipal CDCP.

The city government of Guangzhou, the provincial capital, is tracking the poultry source. The market was shut on Saturday for three days so disinfection can take place.

Meanwhile, 17 sales people working in nine poultry booths in the market are undergoing a week-long medical observation. So far, they have shown no signs of being infected with the bird flu, said Yang.

Bird flu, or avian influenza, is a contagious disease of animal origin caused by viruses that normally only infect birds and, less commonly, pigs. It can be fatal to humans.

Six human cases of H7N9 bird flu have been confirmed in Guangdong since August. None are from Guangzhou.

“According to expert assessments, Guangdong faces an extremely high risk of sporadic human H7N9 infections in winter and next spring,” said Zhang Yonghui, head of the provincial CDCP.

“Cases may occur at any time across the province and the Pearl River Delta region requires special attention.”

The province urged local agricultural and forestry authorities to strengthen management, tests and disinfection of live poultry markets and crack down on the illegal wildlife trade.

Antiflu drugs such as Tamiflu should be used within 48 hours by those who show flu symptoms and have been in contact with poultry, said Chen Yuansheng, director of the provincial health and family planning commission.

The Chinese mainland has reported more than 140 human cases of the virus since last March, with 45 fatalities.

 

 

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