Human infection with an avian-origin influenza A (H7N4) virus in Jiangsu: A potential threat to China

Inventory of molecular markers affecting biological characteristics of avian influenza A viruses

“…There have been 23 human cases of A/H5N6 infection reported from 10 different provinces across mainland China, of which 15 were fatal (CFR 65.2%) [195]. A single human non-fatal infection with an A/H7N4 subtype virus occurred in an elderly woman in Jiangsu, China in December 2017 [192, 196]. This virus is antigenically distinct from formerly circulating A/H7 strains, and, concerningly, appears to be spreading across Southeast Asia, continually reassorting with other viruses in the region [197, 198].…”

Infection of Human Tracheal Epithelial Cells by H5 Avian Influenza Virus Is Regulated by the Acid Stability of Hemagglutinin and the pH of Target Cell Endosomes

“…However, conducting an experiment in which human volunteers are experimentally infected with harmful viruses, including H5N1, is unlikely because of ethical concerns. It would be interesting to examine possible relationships between the viral infection of HTEpC-T clones and the pH threshold for HA-mediated membrane fusion in other AIV strains (H5N6, H6N1, H7N2, H7N3, H7N4, H7N7, H7N9, H9N2, H10N7, and H10N8) that can be transmitted directly from birds to humans [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16].…”

“…Since the first case of human infection in Hong Kong in 1997, H5N1 viruses have remained a serious threat to public health worldwide, even though recent reports show that other subtypes of avian influenza viruses (AIVs), such as H5N6, H6N1, H7N2, H7N3, H7N4, H7N7, H7N9, H9N2, H10N7, and H10N8, can also infect humans [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. AIVs are believed to typically infect human bronchiolar and alveolar epithelial cells [17,18]; however, viral RNA and/or viral antigens have been detected in the tracheal tissue or tracheal aspirates of H5N1-infected patients as well as in alveolar pneumocytes [19][20][21][22][23][24].…”

Emergence of Influenza A(H7N4) Virus, Cambodia

“…In December 2017, a 68-year-old woman in Jiangsu, China, who had underlying medical conditions was infected by an LPAI influenza A(H7N4) virus, which led to severe pneumonia and intensive care unit admission, but she recovered and left the hospital after 21 days ( 8 , 9 ). Genetically similar H7N4 viruses were subsequently detected in contact chickens ( 9 , 10 ) and aquatic poultry in Jiangsu (GISAID, https://www.gisaid.org), substantiating that the infection was zoonotic and raising concerns of endemicity of H7N4 in the region.…”