Number of confirmed H7N9 cases hits 200 since October: CDC

ROC Central News Agency

2014/02/10 21:28:43

Taipei, Feb. 10 (CNA) The number of confirmed human cases of H7N9 has reached 200 since October, predominantly in China, Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said Monday.

Deputy CDC Director-General Chou Jih-haw said that the H7N9 strain was first reported in late March 2013, followed by a period when no cases were reported.

The second wave of cases began in October, and even Hong Kong and Taiwan reported imported cases, bringing the total number to 200.

Among them, most were reported in China's Zhejiang Province at 85 cases, followed by 60 cases in Guangdong Province, 15 cases in Fujian Province and 12 cases in Jiangsu Province, with the remaining cases in Shanghai, Hunan Province, Guangxi Province, Guizhou Province, Beijing, Anhui Province, and Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) issued a yellow alert Monday for travel to Anhui, which recently reported a new H7N9 fatality.

The MAC said the move was in line with the Central Epidemic Command Center's decision to include Anhui into its own orange alert area.

Taiwanese nationals should weigh whether to travel to the province and if they do so, should practice self-health management.

The MAC said Anhui has reported fresh cases since October, showing that the risk and threat remain.

The command center has advised people traveling to China to avoid markets where live poultry is sold or coming in contact with wild birds and eggs, and to stay away from uncooked meat and eggs. They are also advised to practice good personal hygiene, including frequent hand-washing.

(By Lung Jui-yun and Lilian Wu)
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