As of 30 May 2007, 256 individuals, exposed either to affected premises, infected poultry, or to another individual with confirmed or presumptive influenza A/H7N2 virus infection, were identified in the following settings: household (39), school (14), and workplace setting (203), including, at least, 148 patients and staff at two hospitals. Seventy-nine (79) of the exposed individuals are no longer considered at risk as the 7 days incubation period has elapsed. As a precautionary measure, and in accordance with UK policy, the decision was made to offer oseltamivir to exposed individuals.
In addition to the two Wales residents with laboratory confirmed infection, 17 of the exposed individuals, including one health care worker, present or have presented with influenza-like illness (fever above 38° C, aches and pains, cough/head cold, sore throat or conjunctivitis). None of them is seriously ill and they are receiving and have received oseltamivir treatment.
Nose, throat, and eyes swabs obtained from 12 individuals tested negative for influenza A/H7N2 virus infection.
Although according to the preliminary results of the epidemiological investigation, limited human-to-human transmission can not be ruled out, the public health risk is considered low.
There is very limited evidence of human-to-human transmission associated with low pathogenic avian influenza viruses like influenza A/H7N2 virus. However, this was documented by a retrospective cohort study conducted in Netherlands in 2003 and in relation to the highly pathogenic influenza A/H7N7 virus outbreak in poultry.
(source: WHO)
Avian influenza A/(H7N2) in the United Kingdom
