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Biosecurity Briefing
Wales Confirms Human H7N2 Infection; Experts Warn that Other Strains Could Cause a Pandemic By Jennifer Nuzzo, June 1, 2007 On May 29, 2007, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the United Kingdom Health Protection Agency (HPA) has confirmed that four individuals exposed to infected poultry in Conwy, Wales have tested positive for infection with the H7N2 influenza virus.1 According to a report from the WHO Europe office, a total of nine individuals reported mild symptoms including conjunctivitis (eye infection) and flu-like illness, but only four tested positive for the virus.2 However, the National Public Health Service for Wales (HPHS) and HPA North West are investigating the close contacts of all the individuals who have been ill. According to the WHO report, preliminary investigation suggests that the infected poultry may be linked to a market in Cheshire.2 According to a May 30 BBC News article, an additional four people with conjunctivitis have been identified, and the NPHS has identified a total of 221 people who may have come into contact with the virus.3 Health authorities are giving antivirals to those individuals suspected of being exposed. Among those who received antivirals are staff and patients at hospitals where infected individuals were treated and school classmates of exposed individuals. As reported in a May 29, 2007, Associated Press (AP) article, experts warn that the H7N2 infections in the United Kingdom should “serve as a reminder that a virus other than the feared H5N1 strain could also provoke a flu pandemic.”4 Although the symptoms associated with this outbreak are mild compared to those typically produced by the H5N1 virus, flu experts are particularly concerned about the number of H7N2 cases. Using H5N1 as a comparison, although in Asia millions of birds have been infected with the H5N1 avian influenza virus strain, the rate of human infection occurs on the order of one new infection per week. As pointed out by Dr. Michael Purdue of the World Health Organization: “Here, we’re talking about a small number of birds and yet we still have four cases…Unless there’s something unusual about the contact with birds, that suggests the virus is finding new ways of getting into humans.” References
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