WHO: Human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus - update

7 March 2014 - On 4 March 2014, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health, Hong Kong SAR, China, notified WHO of an additional laboratory-confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus.

The patient is an 18 month-old girl who developed mild fever. She consulted a doctor on 28 February, was admitted to a hospital on 1 March and was discharged from the hospital on 3 March in stable condition. Following laboratory-confirmation with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus infection on 4 March, the patient was admitted to another hospital. She is currently asymptomatic, with no fever.

Initial epidemiological investigation revealed that the patient travelled to Foshan, Guangdong province from 5-27 February, where she visited a wet market with her mother. Further investigations into her travel and exposure history are ongoing, including tracing of all close contacts