Human infection with a novel avian-origin influenza A (H7N9) virus

Gao R, Cao B, Hu Y, Feng Z, Wang D, Hu W, et al. N Engl J Med. 2013 May 16.

Background: Infection of poultry with influenza A subtype H7 viruses occurs worldwide, but the introduction of this subtype to humans in Asia has not been observed previously. In March 2013, three urban residents of Shanghai or Anhui, China, presented with rapidly progressing lower respiratory tract infections and were found to be infected with a novel reassortant avian-origin influenza A (H7N9) virus.

Methods: We obtained and analyzed clinical, epidemiologic, and virologic data from these patients. Respiratory specimens were tested for influenza and other respiratory viruses by means of real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction assays, viral culturing, and sequence analyses.

Results: A novel reassortant avian-origin influenza A (H7N9) virus was isolated from respiratory specimens obtained from all three patients and was identified as H7N9. Sequencing analyses revealed that all the genes from these three viruses were of avian origin, with six internal genes from avian influenza A (H9N2) viruses. Substitution Q226L (H3 numbering) at the 210-loop in the hemagglutinin (HA) gene was found in the A/Anhui/1/2013 and A/Shanghai/2/2013 virus but not in the A/Shanghai/1/2013 virus. A T160A mutation was identified at the 150-loop in the HA gene of all three viruses. A deletion of five amino acids in the neuraminidase (NA) stalk region was found in all three viruses. All three patients presented with fever, cough, and dyspnea. Two of the patients had a history of recent exposure to poultry. Chest radiography revealed diffuse opacities and consolidation. Complications included acute respiratory distress syndrome and multiorgan failure. All three patients died.

Conclusions: Novel reassortant H7N9 viruses were associated with severe and fatal respiratory disease in three patients. (Funded by the National Basic Research Program of China and others.).

Link to full text

MMLAP and other EU Projects

AsiaFluCap Health system analysis to support capacity development in response to the threat of pandemic influenza in Asia	BEWATER Making society an active participant in water adaptation to global change	CASI Public Participation in Developing a Common Framework for Assessment and Management of Sustainable Innovation	CIMULACT Engaging all of Europe in shaping a desirable and sustainable future	DARWIN Expect the unexpected and know how to respond
DRIVER Driving innovation in crisis management for European resilience	ECOM Effective communication in outbreak management: development of an evidence-based tool for Europe	EDEN Solutions to improve CBRNe resilience	EPISOUTH Network for Communicable Disease Control in Southern Europe and Mediterranean Countries	EPIWORK Developing the framework for an epidemic forecast infrastructure
EUPHARE Strengthening of the national surveillance system for communicable diseases	EUROHEP Surveillance of vaccine preventable hepatitis	EuroMOMO European monitoring of excess mortality for public health action	EURONHID European network for highly infectious disease	EUVAC.NET Dedicated surveillance network for surveillance and control of vaccine preventable diseases in the EU
FLUMODCONT Modelling the spread of pandemic influenza and strategies for its containment and mitigation	FLURESP Cost-effectiveness assessment of european influenza human pandemic alert and response strategies	GAP2 Bridging the gap between science, stakeholders and policy makers	HProImmune Promotion of immunization for health professionals in Europe	INPROFOOD Towards inclusive research programming for sustainable food innovations
JA-CHRODIS Addressing chronic diseases and healthy ageing across the life cycle	M-Eco Medical ecosystem – personalized event-based surveillance	MAPPING Studying the many and varied economic, social, legal and ethical aspects of the recent developments on the Internet, and their consequences for the individual and society at large	MARINA Get involved in the responsible marine research and innovation	PACITA Knowledge-based policy-making on issues involving science, technology and innovation, mainly based upon the practices in Parliamentary Technology Assessment
PANDEM Assessment of the current pandemic preparedness and response tools, systems and practice at national, EU and global level in priority areas	PE2020 Analysis of innovative public engagement tools and instruments for dynamic governance in the field of Science in Society	PERARES Public Engagement with Research And Research Engagement with Society	PHEME Computing Veracity – the Fourth Challenge of Big Data	PREPARE Providing infrastructure, co-ordination and integration of existing clinical research networks on epidemics and pandemics
PROMOVAX Promote vaccinations among migrant population in Europe	R&DIALOGUE Creating mechanisms for effectively tackling the scientific and technology related challenges faced by society	RESPIRE Improve the quality of indoor air, keeping it free from radon	SATORI Improving respect of ethics principles and laws in research and innovation, in line with the evolution of technologies and societal concerns	SECURING CITIES AGAINST GLOBAL PANDEMICS Investigating how cities in the West securitise against global pandemics
SEiSMiC Creating a structured dialogue and mutual learning with citizens and urban actors by setting up National Networks in 10 countries across Europe	SIS CATALYST Identifying how children can be change agents in the Science and Society relationship	SYN-ENERGENE Establishing an open dialogue between stakeholders concerning synthetic biology’s potential benefits and risks	TELLME Transparent communication in Epidemics: Learning Lessons from experience, delivering effective Messages, providing Evidence

Newsletters

Select the newsletter(s) to which you want to subscribe or unsubscribe.

Contacts

Contacts

General inquiries: info@asset-scienceinsociety.eu

ASSET

Action plan on Science in Society related issues in Epidemics and Total pandemics

European Commission

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no 612236.