H7N9 virus can be transmitted through human excretion

A reporter in Hong Kong (China) on August 15 reported the results of a joint study recently released by mainland Chinese and Chinese medical experts, saying that the H7N9 avian influenza virus can be transmitted via secretions. of human.

In a joint study, experts from the University of Hong Kong and Zhejiang University Hospital No. 1 conducted samples of samples taken from 12 bird flu patients hospitalized within the H7N9. April 10-23, half of which have died.

The test showed that stool samples were taken from 4/6 patients who died positive for H7N9, equivalent to 67%.

Prevention of disease in female patients infected with new H7N9 influenza virus treated at Trieu Duong hospital in Beijing on July 21.(Source: THX / VNA)

This rate is much higher than the rate of 5% and 33% in patients with normal human flu or H5N1 bird flu.

Meanwhile, the patients' blood, urine, lungs, heart, liver, kidneys and bone marrow did not contain the H7N9 virus.

Professor Vien Quoc Dung, a microbiologist at Hong Kong University, said that theoretically, the H7N9 virus can be transmitted in the same way as the SARS infection in the year. 2003 is through the sewage system.

The newly discovered finding is important for a campaign to control the infection of H7N9 flu because the virus in human feces can be released into the environment.

Experts also suggest that the H7N9 virus can be transmitted via secretions is why only one case of this flu has been detected from human to human, by direct inhalation. the disease will spread faster.

The first H7N9 bird flu patient was found in eastern China in March. To date, the country has found a total of 135 people infected with this deadly virus, of which 45 have died.