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| PHILIPPE LOPEZ / AFP A Hongkong government officials wearing protective clothing witnessed piles of plastic bags containing chicken carcasses were destroyed as a result of the discovery of H7N9 avian influenza virus in chicken body imported from China. |
More than six cases of H7N9 avian influenza infection in humans have been reported in China . The World Health Organization ( WHO ) said one of the people infected died .
In a report released on Friday ( 01/31/2014 ) , the WHO said that information obtained from the National Commission for Health and Family Planning ( NHFPC ) and the Centre for Health Protection ( CHP ) , Wednesday ( 01/29/2014 ) .
Residents of all infected male sex , with an age range of 2 to 75 years . Four people were declared in critical condition . Four of the six people who were reported to interact with infected poultry .
The cases were reported in Fujian ( 1 ) , Guangdong ( 1 ) , Hong Kong ( 1 ) , and Zhejiang ( 3 ) . The death toll is a 75 -year -old man at the end of last month to travel to Shenzhen . In that city he fell ill and died in Hong Kong , with suspected avian influenza virus infection in Shenzhen .
" So far , there is no evidence of sustained human-to- human transmission , " the WHO statement said . However the WHO recommends the tourists who come to the area with an outbreak of bird flu to avoid poultry farms and avoid contact with live poultry in markets . Recommendation applies also to slaughterhouses for poultry as well as contact with poultry manure .
However , the WHO has not issued recommendations travel restrictions to areas with bird flu outbreaks or restrict trade in poultry . In the span from February to May 2013 , reported 133 cases of H7N9 in humans in the first wave , followed by two cases were reported in July and August 2013 . Next , be a second wave , since October 2013 has been reported 74 cases of influenza infection in China .
The health authorities have strengthened H7N9 prevention and control measures , including closing some live poultry markets in plague-stricken town . WHO said there were no reports of bird flu infection attacks before February 2013 .
However , after that month , infksi in humans and poultry have been identified , with the majority of people infected with immediate severe pain . Most of the victims said they had not long after exposure to live poultry or suspected environmental contamination .
On January 28, 2014 , reported 22 casualties known to be infected with this virus have died . Two -thirds of victims were male , with an average age of 58 years . Symptoms of patients infected with H7N9 virus is rapidly deteriorating pneumonia , fever , cough , and shortness of breath .
Treatment given to victims in general are anti - flu medication oseltamivir with zanamivir trademark of trademarked Tamiflu and Relenza . So far these drugs have not been proven effective .
So far there are many variants of bird flu have been identified , namely 16 H subtypes and 9 N subtypes Only variants labeled H5 , H7 , and H10 , is known to have caused death in humans .