The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Taiwan and health agencies in Mainland China confirmed last night (November 28, 2014) that a new case of H7N9 influenza infection was found in a female patient over 60 years old in Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province, and another in a 31-year-old female in Dongguan City, Guangdong Province. Both are hospitalized for medical treatment. The CDC has thus raised travel notice level for these two provinces to Level 2: Alert. With regards to avian influenza in humans, the travel notice level for provinces and cities in China (Hong Kong and Macau excluded) is currently set at Level 1: Watch; for Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Guangdong provinces, it is set at Level 2: Alert. The CDC reminds travelers visiting these areas to maintain good personal hygiene and avoid contact with poultry and birds. It also urges physicians to pay more attention to patients with pneumonia and inquire their travel history. 

Since autumn this year (October 1, 2014), eight cases of H7N9 influenza infection have been confirmed in China, including three cases in Jiangsu Province, two cases in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, one case in Beijing City, one case in Zhejiang Province and one case in Guangdong Province. Although the cases in Zhejiang and Guangdong Provinces were the first cases to occur there in autumn this year, a total of 140 and 110 cases have been accumulated respectively in the two provinces since 2013, making them the two hardest-hit provinces in China. Since last year (2013), a total of 461 cases have been confirmed around the world, including 446 in China, 10 in Hong Kong, four in Taiwan, and one in Malaysia. The number of deaths was updated to 177 by the World Health Organization (WHO) on November 18. 

The CDC urges travelers visiting China to avoid contact with poultry and birds, particularly not to pick up dead birds and poultry, be sure to only eat thoroughly cooked chicken, duck, goose, and eggs, and practice good personal hygiene such as washing hands frequently to prevent infection. On their return to Taiwan, if fever or influenza-like symptoms are detected, they should inform airline crew and quarantine officers at the airport and seaport. If the above symptoms develop after their return to Taiwan, they should put on masks and seek medical attention immediately, and inform the doctors of their recent contact and travel history. For more information, please visit CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Disease Prevention Hotline 1922, or 0800-001922.