H7N9 influenza virus changes to high virulence

The results of gene sequencing of viruses isolated in patients showed that influenza A / H7N9 virus has changed from low virulence to high virulence in poultry.

On February 25, the World Health Organization (WHO) informed about some toxic changes of the H7N 9 influenza virus in poultry. Accordingly, the virus sequencing results were isolated from two H7N9 flu patients in Guangdong, China, showing that the virus has changed from low virulence to high virulence in poultry.

Previously, on February 17, the Taiwan Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China) also announced a similar finding based on the results of the sequencing of the virus isolated from a patient in Taiwan.

Avian influenza virus has changed from low virulence to high virulence in poultry.

The continuous change is a natural feature of the influenza virus due to the recombination process. It is important to remain vigilant with the adaptation of avian influenza viruses in humans and other mammals. There is currently no evidence of a change in influenza A / H7N9 virus that easily spreads from person to person. From October 2016 to February 22 in China, 425 cases of H7N9 influenza were reported in humans. China is entering the fifth round of outbreaks with the highest number of cases ever.

In order to proactively prevent the transmission of H7N9 influenza virus to humans, invade our country, Preventive Medicine Department, the Ministry of Health recommends that people implement the following contents well:

• Do not eat poultry, poultry products that are sick, dead and of unknown origin; make sure to eat cooked, drink well; Wash your hands with soap before eating.
• No slaughtering, transporting, buying and selling poultry and poultry products of unknown origin.
• When detecting sick or dead poultry, it is absolutely forbidden to slaughter and use but must immediately notify local authorities and veterinary units in the area.
• When there are flu symptoms such as fever, cough, chest pain, shortness of breath related to poultry, they must go immediately to a health facility for timely advice, examination and treatment.