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Avian Influenza in China (Update)

19 June 2017

On 16 June the Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) reportedLink 5 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) in China, including one death between 9 June and 15 June. The 5 patients (4 male, 1 female) came from Beijing, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan and Zhejiang and were aged from 41 to 68 years. Three were known to have contact with to poultry or poultry markets.

Advice to Travellers

Travellers who may be visiting areas with an outbreak of avian influenza or human avian influenza should be advised to:

  • Avoid contact with live poultry (chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons, quail) or any wild birds and avoid contact with surfaces that may be contaminated with poultry/bird droppings, e.g. commercial poultry farms, backyard poultry farms and live poultry markets.
  • Avoid contact with sick or dead poultry and birds.
  • Maintain strict hand hygiene; one of the most important ways of preventing the spread of infection is careful and frequent hand washing. If soap, clean water and towels are not available, alcohol hand rub can be used.
  • Avoid eating or preparing uncooked or undercooked poultry or poultry products including food containing uncooked poultry blood; the virus is killed by proper cooking. All poultry, including eggs must be thoroughly cooked.
  • Do not attempt to live bring poultry or poultry products back into the country.

An advice sheet recommending ways of reducing the risk from avian influenza has been prepared for travellers to areas reporting human cases of avian influenza.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has advised that 'It is not recommended that travellers take Oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) with them'.

  • In special circumstances, antiviral drugs may be considered for those perceived to be at high risk.

At present no vaccine is available against avian influenza in humans.

  • Initial steps have been taken in the process of vaccine production but the vaccine cannot be finalised until it is clear which viral subtype(s) is required. It is thought that a vaccine could be made available within 4 months when needed.

For further information see Avian Influenza