Three new bird flu infections reported

The death toll from the H7N9 bird flu virus rose to seven on Monday, as Chinese authorities confirmed three new human infections, bringing the total number to 24 nationwide. Officials and experts have asked the public to remain calm, as there is still no evidence of human-to-human transmission.

A Shanghai resident, 64, was confirmed infected with the H7N9 virus and has died, the Shanghai health department reported Monday.

Health authorities in Jiangsu Province announced two new cases yesterday, one in Nanjing and the other in Zhenjiang, while Suzhou reported a suspected infection, with the patient in a serious condition.

The updates came amid warnings against panic from Chinese officials and the World Health Organization (WHO), who suggested the public practice good hygiene and avoid contact with sick or dead animals to prevent infection.

"I would emphasize the fact that so far we only have sporadic cases of the disease so this is not a time for overreaction or panic," Dr. Michael O'Leary, the WHO representative in China, said at a press conference jointly held by the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) and the WHO.

The small number of infections means there is no wide-ranging public health concern at the moment, he explained.

No epidemic link has been detected among the 21 infections confirmed by Sunday, said Liang Wannian, director of the commission's H7N9 influenza prevention and control office. Health authorities have monitored 621 people who had close contact with these patients, and have yet to find any abnormal circumstances, Liang said.

Among the 24 infections reported by Monday evening, 11 were in Shanghai, among whom five had died. Another eight were in Jiangsu, two were in Anhui and three in Zhejiang.

An ongoing investigation and current research has revealed no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission of the virus, O'Leary said. While the source of infection and the mode of transmission are uncertain, the WHO has not connected the pig deaths in the Huangpu River to human cases of influenza, he said.

The WHO does not advise special screening at points of entry with regard to the event nor any travel or trade restrictions be applied, he added, and it is safe to eat properly cooked meat including poultry and poultry products.

Currently it is unclear whether there is a significant risk of spreading throughout the community, according to officials. The NHFPC is developing a vaccine, which may take six to eight months, said Liang, but whether or not they put the vaccine into production will depend on whether the virus can mutate to be transmitted between humans.

The deadly new virus has reminded many of SARS, which infected more than 8,000 people and killed over 700 worldwide in 2002 and 2003.

"We've stepped up the emergency-response system, and established regulations and plans on public health crises over the past decade since the outbreak of SARS," said Liang, adding that the NHFPC is looking forward to media and public scrutiny over transparency.

The NHFPC has been asking medical institutes to report cases of pneumonia with uncertain causes since 2004, and doctors or hospitals will be held liable if they do not report or intentionally cover up confirmed infection cases, he said.