TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control on Thursday reported the country’s first domestic human infection of novel H7 avian influenza, involving a poultry worker in his 70s in Changhua.
The case has been reported to the World Health Organization. The source of infection remains unclear, according to CNA.
Authorities have identified 33 close contacts, who are being monitored through April 6. Three have been given preventive antiviral medication.
The patient developed respiratory symptoms on March 20, including a runny nose and cough, and was hospitalized two days later with a fever. Imaging later confirmed pneumonia, prompting doctors to suspect a novel A-type influenza infection.
Subsequent testing and genetic sequencing confirmed H7 avian influenza, a subtype of novel A-type influenza. Novel A-type influenza differs from seasonal flu and typically originates from animal influenza viruses that occasionally infect humans, according to NowNews.
Symptoms resemble those of seasonal influenza, including fever, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches. Some strains may also cause acute conjunctivitis, while severe cases can lead to pneumonia and respiratory distress.
Because these viruses are not fully adapted to humans, most infections result from animal-to-human transmission, with only limited potential for human-to-human spread.
Authorities are still investigating the source of the infection. Samples taken from 20 ducks at the patient’s farm tested negative, and officials said exposure to virus-contaminated wild bird droppings remains a possible cause.
CDC Director-General Lo Yi-chun (羅一鈞) said tests show the virus is a mild bird flu strain and is unlikely to spread easily between humans. The patient’s condition was classified as moderate, and he has improved following antiviral treatment, suggesting a good response to medication.
Officials said the case appears to be an isolated instance of transmission from a bird to a human, with low risk and no signs of wider spread. They added that the patient’s individual immune response may have played a role in the infection.
Taiwan has recorded five such cases since novel A-type influenza was designated a Category 5 notifiable disease in 2014. Apart from this case, previous reports include one H7N9 case in 2017 and H1N2v cases in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
The CDC urged poultry and livestock workers to use protective equipment and maintain strict hygiene practices. Anyone experiencing respiratory or eye symptoms should seek medical attention promptly and inform doctors of any animal exposure to aid early diagnosis.
