More cases of H7N9 infection in China

A 64-year-old farmer in Zhejiang Province, eastern China, was confirmed as the next H7N9 infection, bringing the total number of bird flu cases in China to 4 this fall.

>>>China successfully prepared the vaccine against H7N9

Xinhua News Agency reported that Ren's female patient lives in Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province, confirmed H7N9 infection on November 4 after symptoms appeared on October 30. According to Zhejiang Province Health Department, this patient is in critical condition.

Information that China has successfully prepared the H7N9 vaccine has raised hopes in the context of bird flu outbreaks in the winter.(Photo: latimes.com)

This is the next case of 2 cases that were recorded in Zhejiang Province in October and another case in Guangdong Province on November 5.

The National Committee for Health and Family Planning said that by the end of August 2013, there were 134 cases of H7N9 infection, of which 45 died. The situation of patients dying from multiple organ failure and lack of vaccine prevented authorities from worrying. However, the information that Chinese researchers successfully produced the H7N9 vaccine has raised new hopes.

The head of the study, Professor Li Lanjuan, said they started making vaccines after successfully isolating the H7N9 virus from a throat sample of an infected patient in April 2013. This new vaccine has been tested at many centers, including Zhejiang University and Hong Kong University, meeting international standards. Currently the vaccine has been tested on ferrets, but more tests are needed before being put into use.

Even so, the current concern is whether the vaccine will be provided enough when the winter is coming.