The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (January 12) received notification of eight additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) with onset of symptoms between November 24 and December 24, 2015, from the National Health and Family Planning Commission, and again urged the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel. They comprise:

1. A male farmer aged 65 in Huzhou, Zhejiang, with exposure to a poultry market in critical condition;
2. A woman aged 51 in Pinghu, Zhejiang, with poultry contact who died on December 25, 2015;
3. A male farmer aged 77 in Tongxiang, Zhejiang, with exposure to a poultry market who died on December 11, 2015;
4. A woman aged 41 in Wuxi, Jiangsu, with exposure to a poultry market in serious condition;
5. A woman aged 52 in Changshu, Jiangsu, with exposure to a poultry market in critical condition;
6. A male farmer aged 53 in Huzhou, Zhejiang, with exposure to a poultry market in critical condition;
7. A woman aged 58 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, with exposure to poultry slaughtering in critical condition; and
8. A woman aged 29 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, with exposure to a poultry market in critical condition.

     From 2013 to date, 678 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been reported by the Mainland health authorities.