The Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning (SMCHFP) has reported a human case of avian influenza A(H7N9), there 46th case of the bird flu since March 2013.
The SMCHFP says the male patient aged 52 was hospitalized for management in stable condition.
To date, 619 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been reported by the Mainland health authorities in Guangdong (181 cases), Zhejiang (167 cases), Jiangsu (73 cases), Fujian (59 cases), Shanghai (46 cases), Hunan (26 cases), Anhui (24 cases), Xinjiang (10 cases), Jiangxi (10 cases), Shandong (six cases), Beijing (five cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Jilin (two cases), Guizhou (two cases) and Hebei (one case).
In addition to the cases reported from the Mainland, imported human cases have been reported from Hong Kong-13, Taiwan-4, Canada-2 and Malaysia-1.
Avian influenza A (H7N9) is an influenza (flu) virus found in birds that does not normally infect humans. However, in spring of 2013, China began reporting infections with the virus in people. Most of these infections have been associated with contact with infected poultry or contaminated environments (such as poultry markets) in China.
Early symptoms are consistent with seasonal flu and may include fever, cough, sore throat,muscle aches and fatigue, loss of appetite, and runny or stuffy nose. However, infection with this virus often causes severe respiratory illness and, in some cases, death.