[A fatal infection due to avian influenza-A (H7N7) virus and adjustment of the preventive measures]

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2004 Oct 30;148(44):2190-4.
[Article in Dutch]

Abstract

In February 2003, the highly pathogenic avian influenza-A virus, subtype H7N7, was the causative agent of a large outbreak of fowl plague in the Netherlands. Two days after visiting a poultry farm that was infected by fowl plague, a 57-year-old male veterinarian developed malaise, headache and fever. After 8 days he was admitted to hospital with signs of pneumonia. Five days later, his condition deteriorated alarmingly. Despite extensive pharmacotherapy he died 4 days later of acute pneumonia. Influenza-A virus, subtype H7N7, was identified by means of reverse transcriptase/PCR in broncho-alveolar washings that had been obtained earlier; routine virus culture yielded the isolate A/Nederland/219/03, which differs by 14 amino-acid substitutions from the first isolate in a chicken (A/kip/Nederland/1/03). Partly as a result of this case, the preventive measures were then adjusted; people who came into contact with infected poultry were given increased possibilities for vaccination and the administration of oseltamivir.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Influenza A Virus, H7N7 Subtype*
  • Influenza A virus / isolation & purification*
  • Influenza A virus / pathogenicity
  • Influenza in Birds / epidemiology
  • Influenza in Birds / prevention & control
  • Influenza in Birds / transmission*
  • Influenza in Birds / virology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Netherlands / epidemiology
  • Occupational Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Occupational Diseases / virology
  • Poultry
  • Poultry Diseases / epidemiology
  • Poultry Diseases / transmission*
  • Veterinarians
  • Zoonoses*