On January 21,2014, the Central Epidemic Command Center(CECC) for H7N9 influenza announced that the second imported case of H7N9 influenza in a 86-year-old male tourist from Changzhou, Jiangsu, China, whose infection was confirmed on December 31, 2013, died at night on January 20, 2014. The patient developed his illness while visiting Taiwan in the end of December and was diagnosed with H7N9 influenza after seeking medical attention in a hospital in Taiwan. After the case was hospitalized for medical treatment, the test results of several of his specimens collected at different times, including sputum, throat swab and bronchoscopy, were all negative for influenza A (H7N9) virus. As a result, on January 14, the patient was removed from isolation. Nevertheless, since his pneumonia persisted, he remained hospitalized for further treatment till he died on January 20.

CECCfor H7N9 influenza stated that after H7N9 influenza infection was confirmed inthe aforementioned case, the health authority has been tracing all thecontacts, including casual contacts and close contacts. The test results of the close contacts, including family members, tour guides, drivers, medical personnel, and patients staying in the same ward, who experienced suspected symptoms were all negative for influenza A (H7N9) virus. At the end of the contact tracing window, no further individuals had been indentified with H7N9 influenza.