WHO alerts globe on flu spread in China

World Health Organisation has closely monitored the spreading of influenza A(H7N9) virus in China.

In the global alert, WHO said that it is in contact with national authorities and is following the event closely. The WHO-coordinated international response is also focusing on work with WHO Collaborating Centres for Reference and Research on Influenza and other partners to ensure that information is available and that materials are developed for diagnosis and treatment and vaccine development.

"No vaccine is currently available for this subtype of the influenza virus. Preliminary test results provided by the WHO Collaborating Centre in China suggest that the virus is susceptible to the neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir and zanamivir)," it said.

Saying that there is no evidence of ongoing human-to-human transmission at this time, WHO does not advise special screening at points of entry with regard to this event, nor does it recommend that any travel or trade restrictions be applied.

To date, a total of 16 patients have been laboratory confirmed with influenza A(H7N9) virus in China; of these, six people have died.

China has killed chickens, ducks, geese and pigeons in Shanghai to contain the flu spread.

More than 520 close contacts of the confirmed cases are being closely monitored. In Jiangsu, investigation is ongoing into a contact of an earlier confirmed case who developed symptoms of illness.

The China Post reported today that six suspicious cases of influenza were reported in Taiwan and tested for the H7N9 strain. Four of the cases were not H7N9 and two are still to be confirmed.

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