Probable Hospital Cluster of H7N9 Influenza Infection
February 13th, 2016“…..A 28-year-old man (index patient), with repeated exposure to live poultry, presented with respiratory infection and was admitted to the respiratory department, where his condition worsened. Laboratory investigation of serum and sputum samples obtained later in the course of illness showed that he was positive for H7N9 by serologic testing and polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) assay. Seven days after admission of the index patient, influenza-like illness developed in a 33-year-old male physician (Doctor 1) who attended the index patient. The acute respiratory distress syndrome later developed in this physician. Four days after the onset of symptoms in Doctor 1, influenza-like illness and bronchial pneumonia developed in a second attending physician (Doctor 2), a 35-year-old man, in the same department. He too had close contact with the index patient…….The three viruses isolated from the index patient, Doctor 1, and Doctor 2 suggest direct human-to-human transmission……”