The first case of H7N9 influenza infection was detected from humans

Medical experts believe that they have discovered the first case of the H7N9 avian influenza virus transmitted from person to person in China.

According to a new study published in the journal British Medical Journal (BMJ), H7N9 influenza virus is thought to have spread from a man to a daughter in eastern China. This finding is the clearest evidence that the H7N9 influenza virus is capable of human-to-human transmission, but experts emphasize that the ability is still limited and unstable.

Until June 30, more than 133 cases of H7N9 influenza virus infection were confirmed in China, of which 43 died. Most of these patients go to markets selling live poultry or live contact with live poultry for about 7 to 10 days before getting sick.

The first case of H7N9 avian influenza virus infection was detected from other people in China.(Photo: intelligencer.ca)

Scientists at the Jiangsu Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Wuxi City have examined a case of a 60-year-old man infected with the H7N9 flu virus after a trafficking in a market. live in eastern China last March.

The man was hospitalized with symptoms of high fever, cough and shortness of breath. Despite special treatment, the man died on May 4. The 32-year-old daughter of the man was also infected with the H7N9 flu virus after taking care of her father at the hospital. Previously, the health of this woman was completely normal and did not contact live birds.

The woman was sick six days after her last contact with her father and was hospitalized. This female patient died on April 24, despite special treatment. Subsequent test results showed that the H7N9 influenza virus in these two patients had a very similar genetic structure. This means that the H7N9 flu virus can be transmitted from father to daughter.

Medical experts checked 43 others who had contact with the two patients. A person has a mild illness, but the test results are not positive for the H7N9 influenza virus. Others have no sign of being infected with this deadly virus.

Dr. Peter Horby, working at Oxford University Research Institute in Vietnam, said: 'The biggest source of infection for girls is from the father during his care at the hospital.' .

Peter Horby said cases of human-to-human transmission are also limited to other avian influenza strains such as H5N1 and H7N7 or swine flu H3N2v.