News & Perspective

(CIDRAP News) – Though the steady stream of new H7N9 cases has tapered, the pace of publications on the new virus is still brisk, with new reports today on Taiwan's case, a link between markets and human cases, and risk assessment and planning for possible scenarios in Europe.

(CIDRAP News) – Testing of more than 20,000 Chinese who had influenza-like illnesses (ILIs) in March and April turned up little evidence of mild cases of H7N9 influenza, researchers reported, as Chinese authorities revealed that another H7N9 patient has died.

(CIDRAP News) – Another patient in China has died from an H7N9 influenza infection, raising the number of fatal illnesses to 32, though no new cases were reported today, holding the overall case total to 131.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported the death today in an update based on information from China's National Health and Family Planning Commission.

(CIDRAP News) – Although no new H7N9 influenza cases or deaths were announced in China today, a team that treated severely ill patients in Shanghai raised questions about the benefits of oseltamivir (Tamiflu), and health groups issued updates on preparedness steps.

(CIDRAP News) – The reach and number of H7N9 infections in China continued to expand over the past 3 days, with Hunan province reporting its first case and four others reporting six more, lifting the outbreak's total to 126, according to the latest official and media reports.

(CIDRAP News) – Fujian province today reported its first H7N9 influenza case—the ninth area of eastern China to be affected by the virus—as other provinces reported six more infections, raising the outbreak total to 119.

In a pattern seen throughout the outbreak so far, most of the newly reported cases are in men, and many of the patients are older.

(CIDRAP News) – Taiwan health officials today announced that a 53-year-old man who had recently traveled to China is hospitalized in critical condition with a novel H7N9 infection, the first such case to be detected outside of China.