TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The first domestic human infection of H7 avian flu in Taiwan has been confirmed as H7N7.
The patient, a poultry farmer in his 70s from Changhua County, was discharged from the hospital on Friday after follow-up tests came back negative. The source of infection remains unknown and the Centers for Disease Control said the virus is a low-pathogenic strain, meaning it usually causes only mild illness, according to CNA.
Authorities are monitoring 33 people who had close contact with the patient until April 6. Officials said the virus responds well to antiviral medication and shows no mutations linked to drug resistance.
Novel A-type influenza originates in animals but can sometimes infect humans. Symptoms resemble seasonal flu, including fever, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches, but some strains may also cause eye irritation or, in rare cases, pneumonia, according to NowNews.
About 90 H7N7 human cases have been reported worldwide since 1959, mostly in Europe before 2003. Only one death has been recorded, and most infections caused mild eye symptoms.
CDC spokesperson Tseng Shu-hui (曾淑慧) said Taiwan’s H7N7 virus differs from older European human cases and is most closely related to strains previously found in local wild birds. No mutations increasing bird-to-human transmission were detected, indicating this was a rare, isolated event.
Migratory and wild birds, which are natural carriers of H7 viruses and usually show no symptoms, have been monitored in Taiwan since 2015. Surveillance has detected only occasional cases in wild bird droppings and a single farmed bird case.
While the risk to the general public is low, high-risk groups such as poultry workers, culling teams, and other occupationally exposed individuals face low-to-moderate risk. The CDC advises these workers to strictly follow protective measures, wear personal protective equipment, and disinfect thoroughly after work.
The CDC also urges the public to follow basic hygiene and food safety measures. Meat and eggs should be fully cooked before eating, and hands should be washed thoroughly with soap.
Anyone who develops symptoms such as fever, cough, or eye irritation should wear a mask and promptly seek medical care. People who regularly handle poultry are advised to get a seasonal flu vaccine, and maintaining a balanced diet and regular exercise can help support overall health.
