Influenza H7N9
Type: Viral
Geography: Asia
Cases Per Year: 100 to 1,200
Fatality Rate: 39%
First Discovered: 2013 in China by the Centre for Health Protection
Avian Influenza H7N9 is a bird flu strain of the species Influenza virus A. Symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath, and may progress to pneumonia. An overload of the immune system causing a cytokine storm, blood poisoning, and organ failure are also possible.
The virus is transmitted mainly though exposure to domestic poultry; the rate of human-to-human is very low. The virus was more prevalent in males older than 50 years of age than any other age and gender demographic.
H7N9 began in China, and cases have also been reported in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Malaysia.
Photo: Influenza A (H7N9) filaments and spheres – Electron micrograph.
