Human infection with a novel H7N9 avian influenza virus in Yunnan, China.

Recent correspondence in this Journal has highlighted the current threat posed by recently-emerging highly pathogenic H7N9 avian influenza virus in China. 1 Li Y. Qi W. Qiao J. Chen C. Liao M. Xiao C. Evolving HA and PB2 genes of influenza A (H7N9) viruses in the fifth wave-Increasing threat to both birds and humans?. J Infect. 2017; 75: 184-186 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (17) Google Scholar , 2 Zhang F. Bi Y. Wang J. Wong G. Shi W. Hu F. et al. Human infections with recently-emerging highly pathogenic H7N9 avian influenza virus in China. J Infect. 2017; 75: 71-75 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (119) Google Scholar The fifth outbreak of human infection with avian influenza A (H7N9) virus was recognized October 1, 2016, representing a significant increase in magnitude compared with the first four such epidemics in China. The causal virus has evolved from a low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV) to a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) during this ongoing fifth epidemic, and has been responsible for seven human respiratory infections to date, leading to serious public health concerns globally. 3 Iuliano A.D. Jang Y. Jones J. Davis C.T. Wentworth D.E. Uyeki T.M. et al. Increase in human infections with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus during the fifth epidemic-China, october 2016–february 2017. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2017; 66: 254-255 Crossref PubMed Scopus (78) Google Scholar , 4 Jin Y. Ren H. Teng Y. Hu M. Peng X. Yue J. et al. Novel reassortment of avian influenza A(H7N9) virus with subtype H6N6 and H5N6 viruses circulating in Guangdong province, China. J Infect. 2017; 75: 179-182 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (17) Google Scholar , 5 Wang X. Jiang H. Wu P. Uyeki T.M. Feng L. Lai S. et al. Epidemiology of avian influenza A H7N9 virus in human beings across five epidemics in mainland China, 2013–17: an epidemiological study of laboratory-confirmed case series. Lancet Infect Dis. 2017; 17: 822-832 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (209) Google Scholar , 6 Webby R.J. Yang Z. The changing landscape of A H7N9 influenza virus infections in China. Lancet Infect Dis. 2017; 17: 783-784 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (11) Google Scholar , 7 Shen Y. Lu H. Global concern regarding the fifth epidemic of human infection with avian influenza A (H7N9) virus in China. Biosci Trends. 2017; 11: 120-121 Crossref PubMed Scopus (22) Google Scholar Here, we summarize the clinical and virological characteristics of a case of imported H7N9 infection detected in Yunnan, China.