Animals ; Humans ; Influenza, Human ; diagnosis ; virology ; Male

Adult ; Aged ; Brugada Syndrome ; diagnosis ; virology ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype ; pathogenicity ; Influenza, Human ; diagnosis ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged

influenza virus can infect humans and cause disease. The clinical presentation of human infection is usually mild, but the infection caused by A(H5N1) avian influenza virus occurring initially in Hongkong in 1997 or the A(H7N9) virus isolated first at the beginning of this year in China is severe and characterized by high mortality. The mortality rate of adolescents and children caused by H5N1 avian influenza is lower than that of adults and the younger the child the lower the mortality rate. A few pediatric H7N9 avian influenza cases recovered soon after treatment. A child was determined to be a H7N9 avian influenza virus carrier. These findings suggested that the pediatric H7N9 avian influenza infection was mild. It is very important to start anti-virus treatment with oseltamivir as early as possible in cases of avian influenza infection is considered. Combined therapy, including respiratory and circulatory support and inhibiting immunological reaction, is emphasized in the treatment of severe cases.
Animals ; Birds ; virology ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; Influenza in Birds ; virology ; Influenza, Human ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; virology ; Time Factors

One 22-month-old boy who was admitted for a fever lasting 6 days as well as a cough and wheezing lasting 2 days was reported. He was diagnosed with influenza A (H1N1, severe type), severe pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), Evans syndrome and multiple organ failure. This is the first case of novel influenza A (H1N1) and Evans syndrome. The pathogenesis is still unknown.
Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Infant ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; pathogenicity ; Influenza, Human ; diagnosis ; virology ; Male ; Thrombocytopenia ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo design and rapidly evaluate a TaqMan assay for detecting influenza A viruses.

METHODSThe probe and the primers of the assay were designed with the software packages of DNA Star and Primer Premier 5.0. Their specificity and conservation were verified through Blast in GenBank and electronic hybridization. The assay's sensitivity was compared with the standard RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe designed primers and probe were confirmed to be very specific and conserved. The assay was 3-27 folds more sensitive than the standard RT-PCR. The RT and PCR steps could be simplified into one step.

CONCLUSIONThe TaqMan Real-time PCR assay is specific, sensitive and easy to perform.

Animals ; Birds ; Humans ; Influenza A virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Influenza in Birds ; diagnosis ; virology ; Influenza, Human ; diagnosis ; virology ; Reproducibility of Results ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Aged, 80 and over ; Animals ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Influenza, Human ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; virology ; Male

Since the first report of a swine influenza virus (SIV) infection in humans in 1958, cases have occurred continuously and increased significantly after the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. Although exposure to swine is thought to be a risk factor for human SIVs infections, approximately half of the reported cases had no known exposure to pigs. Besides, epidemiological investigation showed that several cases had limited human-to-human transmission. Based on the analyses of data on swine influenza virus infection in humans in this review, both the improved SIVs surveillance in humans and swine population and wider vaccination coverage among occupational workers are critical strategies in pandemic preparedness and response.
Animals ; Humans ; Influenza A virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Influenza, Human ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; transmission ; virology ; Orthomyxoviridae Infections ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; veterinary ; virology ; Swine ; Swine Diseases ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; transmission ; virology ; Zoonoses ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; transmission ; virology

OBJECTIVETo compare the epidemiological and clinical features of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) caused by influenza virus A (IVA) and influenza virus B (IVB) in children.

METHODSThe clinical data of 366 children with LRTI caused by influenza virus (IV), who were hospitalized in Yuying Children′s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University between 2010 and 2014, were analyzed retrospectively, and there were 272 cases caused by IVA and 94 cases caused by IVB.

RESULTSIV was mainly prevalent from December to March of the next year, with the predominance of IVA. There were small peaks of IVA prevalence in July or September every other year, and IVB was prevalent from December to March of the next year every other year. The children with LRTI caused by IVA alone had a significantly higher white blood cell (WBC) count and significantly higher percentages of children with increased WBC, abnormal serum sodium, and abnormal serum potassium than those caused by IVB alone (P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in age, sex, underlying diseases, clinical manifestations, and co-infection rate with bacteria or atypical pathogens between the two groups (P>0.05). The rate of co-infection with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was significantly higher in the IVB group than in the IVA group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIVA is prevalent in winter and spring every year and has small peaks in summer every other year, while IVB is prevalent in winter and spring every other year. Compared with IVB, IVA causes more cases of increased WBC and electrolyte disturbance. The children infected with IVB are more likely to be co-infected with RSV. The children with LRTI caused by IVA and IVB have similar clinical manifestations.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Influenza A virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Influenza B virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Influenza, Human ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; virology ; Male ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; virology ; Retrospective Studies ; Seasons

Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; pathogenicity ; Influenza, Human ; diagnosis ; Pregnancy ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; diagnosis ; virology

OBJECTIVETo ascertain the causation of a family cluster involving two undefined pneumonia cases, a 12-year-old girl and her brother, reported October, 2005 in Xiangtan county, Hunan province.

METHODSInformation on epidemiology and clinical manifestation of the cases was collected from interviewing the keyman and referring to related medical records. The environment exposure of the cases to their households and the timeline of the illness were reproduced, using this information. Medical check-up was undergone among the close contacts of the cases and on sick/dead poultry. Throat swab of the cases were collected and tested by both RT-PCR and real-time PCR to detect viral nucleic acids of A/H5N1, and were then inoculated into special pathogen free (SPF) embryonated hens' eggs. Serum of the cases including acute and convalescent phases were also collected and tested by microneutralization and haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) assays to detect H5-specific antibodies.

RESULTSBoth the girl and her brother developed fever 2 and 4 days after sudden deaths of chickens being raised in the same house. Both of them had developed pneumonia and the girl died from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) complicated with multi-organ failure. The boy survived and subsequently discharged from hospital. An eighth-day serum from the girl tested H5 antibody negative, while 4-fold and greater increased in antibody titers were detected in serum from the boy using microneutralization and HI assays in sequential acute and convalescent sera. Of 192 cases, only one doctor who cared for the girl during hospitalization had upper respiratory symptoms but tested negative for H5N1 by microneutralization assay.

CONCLUSIONThe boy was the first confirmed human case of avian influenza A (H5N1) in the mainland of China and his sister was diagnosed clinically. The most probable explanation of these two cases was that the transmission of H5N1 virus from infected poultry within the same household environment. No evidence of human-to-human transmission was noted in the family cluster.

Animals ; Chickens ; Child ; China ; Fatal Outcome ; Female ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Influenza in Birds ; transmission ; Influenza, Human ; complications ; diagnosis ; transmission ; Male ; Pneumonia ; virology ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; virology