H7N9 bird flu

What is H7N9 bird flu?

The newspapers and media have recently been reporting about a new strain of avian influenza, or ’bird flu’, called H7N9, which has emerged in China. This may sound familiar to you if you remember an outbreak of a different type of bird flu (H5N1) in Asia and the Middle East in 2003. All of the information and opinions about bird flu can be confusing and worrying. So, here are the basics about what H7N9 is and if there’s anything you can do to help prevent it from spreading.

What does H7N9 mean?

H7 viruses are a group of flu viruses that usually only affect birds. The H7N9 virus is a subgroup among the H7 viruses. Recent reports from China have stated that there have been some instances of the H7N9 virus being passed from poultry to humans. However, there is nothing to suggest, currently, that the virus is being passed from person to person.

What symptoms do people with H7N9 bird flu have?
Symptoms appear to begin with:

– a fever
– coughing
– shortness of breath

Some people who have been infected with the H7N9 virus have reported to have a severe illness, such as very badpneumonia, septic shock (life-threatening low blood pressure caused by an infection) or multiple organ failure, which alone are all life-threatening conditions.

Is there a vaccine?

The short answer is no, not at the moment. Governments and pharmaceutical companies are currently working on producing a vaccine against the H7N9 virus.

Is there a pandemic?

A pandemic happens when, in this case, the bird flu virus spreads over a very wide area covering different countries, usually affecting a large amount of people. The World Health Organization (WHO) also states that the following criteria need to be met for a pandemic to be declared.
The virus should be able to:

– infect humans
– cause disease in humans
– spread from human to human quite easily

As there is currently no evidence to confirm that the H7N9 virus can be passed easily from person to person, this strain has not been declared as a pandemic. However, if the characteristics of the virus change, it’s possible that a pandemic could start.

How can we prevent the H7N9 virus from being passed from person to person?

Although it’s not clear how the H7N9 virus is being spread, the WHO recommends the following hygiene tips to help prevent infection.
Wash your hands before, during and after preparing food, before you eat, after you use the toilet, after handing animals, when your hands are dirty and if you’re providing care for an ill person.
Cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, and throw any tissues you use into a closed bin as soon as you’ve used it. Wash your hand after covering your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing.