What's on the web for family physicians – Avian Influenza A (H7N9) outbreak

Alfred KY Tang 鄧權恩

World Health Organisation (WHO)
http://www.wpro.who.int/china/mediacentre/multimedia/en/

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is playing an active role in reporting and keeping the world geared up for the avian influenza A (H7N9) outbreak in China. Information ranging from the sequence of events, virology, treatment protocol and vaccine development are updated regularly in the various sections of their website. A list of Frequently Asked Question on human infection caused by the avian influenza A (H7N9) virus is available at their website on human animal interface
(http://www.who.int/influenza/human_animal_interface/faq_H7N9/en/index.html). The section on Influenza Highlights tells a lot of basic information on the virus. Under the section Laboratory and Virology,
(http://www.who.int/influenza/gisrs_laboratory/a_h7n9/en/index.html ), the most recent summary of status of development of avaian influenza (H7N9) candidate vaccine viruses was released. The newly established Representative office of WHO in China has also published a statement from press briefing on the international H7N9 assessment team completed its mission in China through its website (http://www.wpro.who.int/entity/wpsar/volumes/04/2/2013_PE_EMT_Murhekar/en/index.html ). Other information on surveillance and monitoring, virology, development of vaccines, patient care and treatment, human and interface, public awareness, and other information resources can all be found at different sections of their website.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/h7n9-faq.htm The CDC website has a comprehensive coverage on avian influenza (H7N9) outbreak. Besides a list of well thought FAQs, there are basic information on H7N9 virus and background information on human infections of other avian influenza viruses. Advice for travelers to China, interim guidance to health professional, and what CDC is doing in response to H7N9 are posted. CDChas also compiled a list of selected publications andresources relating to H7N9, including journal articlesfrom prominent journals and statements issued by otherhealth authorities.

Centre of Health Protection (CHP) Hong Kong
http://www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/24244.html

There is a dedicated page on avian influenza at the website of Centre of Health Protection (CHP) Hong Kong. Besides the alert response level of the government, press releases, correspondences to doctors and institutions, latest avian influenza updates, weekly avian influenza reports, global statistics, are published on the web. A set of lecture slides on 'Prevention of Avian Flu' was also made available for download. Department of Health has also been posting regular updates and press release information about the H7N9 outbreak. (http://www.dh.gov.hk/eindex.html )

Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC)
中國疾病預防控制中心
http://www.chinacdc.cn/en/research_5311/

The China CDC have published a bilingual page on H7N9 avian influenza virus for local and overseas readers. Highlights of the sequence of events since outbreak, and related press releases and statements issued are posted onthe website. A set of FAQ on H7N9 avian influenza and weekly updates of data are available through the website. Guideline and Recommendations related to the outbreak are also available including treatment protocol, and Real time PT-PCR protocol for detection of virus are available. Research highlights, health tips for travelers and links to other health authorities worldwide are available.

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/healthtopics/avian_influenza/Pages/index.aspx

Avian influenza A(H7N9) is covered in depth at the website of Europen Centre of Deasese Prevention and Control (ECDC). Materials are classified under News and updates, Publications, Public Health Developments, Scientific advances. Articles on the status on development of point-of-care tests for detection of avian influenza are available. Other information at the website includes basic facts, epidemiological data and public health measures of the virus and the outbreak. Links to external sites are available. A recently published risk assessment paper is Updated Risk Assessment: Human Infection with a Novel Avian Influenza Virus A(H7N9), (http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications/Publications/Forms/ECDC_DispForm.aspx?ID=1115 ) The document is to assess the risk associated with the outbreak of avian influenza A(H7N9) to public health in the EU, to anticipate likely future developments, and to make recommendations for Europe. It summarizes the novel avian influenza A(H7N9) and focuses on new developments following previous publication of European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control in April 2013.

In the press:

South China Morning Post: H7N9 avian flu http://www.scmp.com/topics/h7n9-avian-flu
Medical News Today http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/birdflu/
無綫新聞 - H7N9 禽流感 http://news.tvb.com/story/515aef826db28ceb69000002

In the press, H7N9 avian flu was developed by quite a few media as focus topics in their respective website. Headline news on the H7N9 outbreak can be found on the webpages. Archive of previous news pieces can be accessed with their search engine. They constitute good references if one wishes to update himself with the progress of the outbreak, point-of-care virus detection methods, vaccine developments, issues on treatment especially on drug resistance, and human-to-human spread.