Chinese researchers today reported a case of coinfection with H3N2 and H7N9 influenza in a 15-year-old boy from Jiangsu province who was sick in late April and quickly recovered. The team published a case report on their findings in today´s issue of The Lancet. The previously health student started having symptoms on Apr 25 and went to the hospital the next day when they worsened. Two throat swabs were taken, and rapid testing showed influenza A. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing in Nanjing indicated influenza A, H7, and H3. Virus isolation yielded H7N9 and H3N2 viruses. The H7N9 virus was highly similar to a Zhejiang strain, and the H3N2 virus was closely related to currently circulating seasonal H3N2 viruses, according to the report. The boy was admitted to the hospital where he received osteltamivir (Tamiflu) treatment. He recovered on May 2. Researchers wrote that dual infections are a potential source of reassortment between human and avian viral strains, which could raise the risk of human-to-human transmission.
Jun 15 Lancet abstract