At the time of writing, officials from the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) have confirmed a total of 131 cases of human infections with the avian influenza A(H7N9) virus, including 37 deaths, have occurred in Shanghai (33, including 14 deaths), Jiangsu Province(27, including 8 deaths), Zhejiang Province (46, including 9 deaths), Anhui Province (4, including 2 deaths), Beijing (2), Henan Province (4, including 1 death), Shandong Province (2), Jiangxi Province (6, including 1 death), Fujian Province (5), Hunan Province (2, including 1 death), and another death in a confirmed case, but the location of occurrence is to be confirmed.

Between 8am on May 28 and 8am on May 29, 2013, Taiwan CDC received reports of 2 suspected cases. Both were reported by the healthcare provider and the possibility of H7N9 infection in both classes has been ruled out (both were negative for influenza viruses).

To meet the demands for the control of H7N9 influenza and strengthen H7N9 influenza surveillance and preparedness efforts, during the 27^th meeting held by the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) for H7N9 influenza, decisions to revise the case definition for human infection with influenza A (H7N9) and update travel notice to be implemented beginning June 1, 2013 were reached.

As of May 26, 2013, a total of 16,613 specimen collections have been conducted by the Council of Agriculture, including 394 chicken farms/times, 178 duck farms/times, 61 goose farms/times, 496 pet bird inspections, 39 pig farms/times, 75 live poultry vendors/times, and 2,497 wild bird dropping inspections. Thus far, no influenza A (H7N9) antibody or virus has been detected in any of the specimens. In addition, surveillance and disinfection activities have also been reinforced on offshore islands, including Kinmen County, Lianjiang County and Penghu County. A total of 329 on-site investigations, 213 wild bird dropping inspections, 10 specimen collections and 399 disinfection activities have been conducted and no influenza A(H7N9) virus has been detected.

On May 28, 2013, local governments inspected a total of 523 poultry vendors for any acts of illegal slaughtering and selling of live poultry at traditional wet markets. Two offense incidents were caught, including one in Kinment County and one in Taitung County. Since the implementation of the ban on slaughtering of live poultry at traditional wet markets, local governments have inspected a total of 4,650 poultry vendors and found 29 offense incidents. CECC will continue with the inspection activity and urges the vendors and public to support and cooperate government policies to ward off the threat posed by H7N9 influenza.

For more information, please call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Care Hotline, 1922, or 0800-001922 if calling from a cell phone, or visit the Taiwan CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw.