Avian influenza A H7N9 virus infections not evident among high-risk groups in India

An emergence of a novel avian-origin reassortant influenza A (H7N9) virus in Eastern China has caused an alarming situation due to severe lower respiratory tract infections in humans. As of January 2015, a total of 486 humans infections of H7N9 (resulting in 185 deaths) have been reported. Human infections of H7N9 virus have been associated with poultry exposures in live bird markets although H7N9 virus is not easily transmitted to humans1. In the scenario of emerging avian influenza (AI) viruses in Asia, it is necessary to monitor high-risk population groups such as poultry workers for human infections. In India, the outbreaks of highly pathogenic AI H5N1 virus were first reported in February 2006 in poultry at Navapur, Maharashtra, and then, several outbreaks have been reported in northeastern India2,3. Considering the proximity of northeastern regions of India with China and likelihood of introduction of this virus, the present study was conducted to detect AI H7N9 virus infections among poultry workers as a high-risk group in western and north-eastern India during 2014.