Close contact said to be source of transmission

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   Close contact of H7N9 victim confirmed with virus in Shanghai

Staff Reporter 
2013-04-14 
16:14 (GMT+8) 

An infectious disease team from Anhui province participate in an emergency drill. (Photo/CNS)
Concerns about H7N9 and whether the virus is capable of human-to-human transmission have been heightened after Shanghai authorities confirmed that a "close contact" of one of the earlier victims has also contracted the virus, reports Hong Kong-based Ming Pao.
The H7N9 subtype of the bird flu has so far killed 11 people and infected a total of 51 people, after central China's Henan province reported two new cases on Sunday morning. 
One of the H7N9 cases reported in Shanghai on Saturday was a 56-year-old man surnamed Gu, whose 52-year-old wife had passed away from the virus on April 7. Gu, who is still receiving treatment, first exhibited bird flu symptoms on April 1, while his wife first showed symptoms on March 27, leading to suggestions that this may be the first instance of human-to-human transmission of the new strain.
Tsang Tak-yin, a representative of the Hong Kong Society for Infectious Diseases, says there is still not enough scientific evidence to prove that the H7N9 virus can spread among people. Gu may have contracted the virus from the same source as his wife, and not directly from her, Tsang said, adding that the risk of human-to-human transmission remains low.
Existing cases also show that the most damage from H7N9 occurs at the bottom of the lungs, with weaker signs of the virus in the respiratory tract. This suggests that the victims did not contract the virus through airborne particles, such as from a sneeze, Tsang said.
Gu's four close contacts have so far shown no symptoms of H7N9, according to official Chinese media.
Meanwhile, the condition of the seven-year-old girl who became the first reported case of H7N9 infection in Beijing on Saturday is said to be improving after receiving hospital treatment. 
Live poultry trade has been suspended indefinitely in the city following reports that the girl's parents sold poultry from their place of residence.

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waterboy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Valued Member Joined: January 21 2008 Status: Offline Points: 8170	Post Options Post Reply Quote waterboy Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Close contact said to be source of transmission Posted: April 15 2013 at 8:00am
	Close contact of H7N9 victim confirmed with virus in Shanghai Staff Reporter 2013-04-14 16:14 (GMT+8) An infectious disease team from Anhui province participate in an emergency drill. (Photo/CNS) Concerns about H7N9 and whether the virus is capable of human-to-human transmission have been heightened after Shanghai authorities confirmed that a "close contact" of one of the earlier victims has also contracted the virus, reports Hong Kong-based Ming Pao. The H7N9 subtype of the bird flu has so far killed 11 people and infected a total of 51 people, after central China's Henan province reported two new cases on Sunday morning. One of the H7N9 cases reported in Shanghai on Saturday was a 56-year-old man surnamed Gu, whose 52-year-old wife had passed away from the virus on April 7. Gu, who is still receiving treatment, first exhibited bird flu symptoms on April 1, while his wife first showed symptoms on March 27, leading to suggestions that this may be the first instance of human-to-human transmission of the new strain. Tsang Tak-yin, a representative of the Hong Kong Society for Infectious Diseases, says there is still not enough scientific evidence to prove that the H7N9 virus can spread among people. Gu may have contracted the virus from the same source as his wife, and not directly from her, Tsang said, adding that the risk of human-to-human transmission remains low. Existing cases also show that the most damage from H7N9 occurs at the bottom of the lungs, with weaker signs of the virus in the respiratory tract. This suggests that the victims did not contract the virus through airborne particles, such as from a sneeze, Tsang said. Gu's four close contacts have so far shown no symptoms of H7N9, according to official Chinese media. Meanwhile, the condition of the seven-year-old girl who became the first reported case of H7N9 infection in Beijing on Saturday is said to be improving after receiving hospital treatment. Live poultry trade has been suspended indefinitely in the city following reports that the girl's parents sold poultry from their place of residence.