First Domestic H7 Novel Avian Flu Impact Assessment, CDC: Public Health Risk Is Low
Taiwan confirmed its first domestic human case of H7N7 avian influenza, but the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) assessed the public health risk as "low." No evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission has been found.
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- 📰 Published: May 5, 2026 at 18:56
- 🔍 Collected: May 5, 2026 at 19:01 (5 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 5, 2026 at 19:04 (2 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Taipei, May 5, Central News Agency reporter Zeng Yining) A duck farmer in Changhua, aged over 70, was recently confirmed with H7N7, marking Taiwan's first domestic case of novel H7 avian influenza. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) today stated that after a joint assessment by agricultural and health authorities, the overall public health risk to humans in Taiwan is rated as "low risk."
The Ministry of Health and Welfare's Centers for Disease Control announced on April 2 that Taiwan detected its first domestic case of novel H7 avian influenza, a male duck farmer in Changhua over 70 years old. Subsequent sequencing of the case's sample confirmed it as H7N7, making it the first confirmed H7N7 case in Taiwan.
CDC spokesperson Tseng Shu-hui stated today at the routine weekly epidemic report that, based on the spirit of national epidemic prevention unity, the CDC activated a joint risk assessment team involving both agricultural and health authorities on April 1. This team jointly assessed H7 subtype viruses (including H7N7, H7N2, H7N3, H7N4) by referencing the US CDC's influenza virus risk assessment tool framework. They collected supporting data and scored 10 risk factor-corresponding assessment questions to conduct a comprehensive evaluation.
Tseng Shu-hui pointed out that the assessment results indicate the overall risk of the four H7 subtype viruses is low. Although the possibility of sporadic domestic cases occurring in the future cannot be ruled out, direct and indirect contact with animals remains the primary transmission route. No evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission has been found, and the possibility of further community spread is extremely low.
Tseng Shu-hui stated that this case was discovered due to the high vigilance of a hospital physician who reported the novel H7 avian influenza after observing the case's clinical symptoms, contact history, and preliminary test results, which were then confirmed. Therefore, in accordance with the "Regulations for Infectious Disease Prevention Incentives," the reporting physician was awarded a NT$10,000 reporting bonus.
Regarding the case's status, the CDC noted that the individual was discharged on April 3 after isolation treatment was lifted. All 33 contacts identified completed health monitoring by April 6, and none were confirmed with novel H7 avian influenza, indicating no risk of epidemic expansion.
The CDC explained that based on the national unified action for epidemic prevention, health and agricultural units collaborated to carry out relevant investigations and prevention work for this case. Genetic sequencing of the virus showed it is most similar to strains isolated from wild birds in Japan and Korea in 2024. All its gene segments originated from the Eurasian low pathogenicity avian influenza virus gene pool, indicating a high correlation between this virus and those prevalent in wild bird populations.
The CDC stated that agricultural authorities actively completed sample collection from the individual's other poultry farms before the Qingming holiday, expanded sampling to five nearby poultry farms, and collaborated with wild bird associations to collect 92 wild bird samples from the surrounding area, none of which detected avian influenza-related viruses. (Editor: Chang Ya-ching) 1150505
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(Taipei, May 5, Central News Agency reporter Zeng Yining) A duck farmer in Changhua, aged over 70, was recently confirmed with H7N7, marking Taiwan's first domestic case of novel H7 avian influenza. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) today stated that after a joint assessment by agricultural and health authorities, the overall public health risk to humans in Taiwan is rated as "low risk."
The Ministry of Health and Welfare's Centers for Disease Control announced on April 2 that Taiwan detected its first domestic case of novel H7 avian influenza, a male duck farmer in Changhua over 70 years old. Subsequent sequencing of the case's sample confirmed it as H7N7, making it the first confirmed H7N7 case in Taiwan.
CDC spokesperson Tseng Shu-hui stated today at the routine weekly epidemic report that, based on the spirit of national epidemic prevention unity, the CDC activated a joint risk assessment team involving both agricultural and health authorities on April 1. This team jointly assessed H7 subtype viruses (including H7N7, H7N2, H7N3, H7N4) by referencing the US CDC's influenza virus risk assessment tool framework. They collected supporting data and scored 10 risk factor-corresponding assessment questions to conduct a comprehensive evaluation.
Tseng Shu-hui pointed out that the assessment results indicate the overall risk of the four H7 subtype viruses is low. Although the possibility of sporadic domestic cases occurring in the future cannot be ruled out, direct and indirect contact with animals remains the primary transmission route. No evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission has been found, and the possibility of further community spread is extremely low.
Tseng Shu-hui stated that this case was discovered due to the high vigilance of a hospital physician who reported the novel H7 avian influenza after observing the case's clinical symptoms, contact history, and preliminary test results, which were then confirmed. Therefore, in accordance with the "Regulations for Infectious Disease Prevention Incentives," the reporting physician was awarded a NT$10,000 reporting bonus.
Regarding the case's status, the CDC noted that the individual was discharged on April 3 after isolation treatment was lifted. All 33 contacts identified completed health monitoring by April 6, and none were confirmed with novel H7 avian influenza, indicating no risk of epidemic expansion.
The CDC explained that based on the national unified action for epidemic prevention, health and agricultural units collaborated to carry out relevant investigations and prevention work for this case. Genetic sequencing of the virus showed it is most similar to strains isolated from wild birds in Japan and Korea in 2024. All its gene segments originated from the Eurasian low pathogenicity avian influenza virus gene pool, indicating a high correlation between this virus and those prevalent in wild bird populations.
The CDC stated that agricultural authorities actively completed sample collection from the individual's other poultry farms before the Qingming holiday, expanded sampling to five nearby poultry farms, and collaborated with wild bird associations to collect 92 wild bird samples from the surrounding area, none of which detected avian influenza-related viruses. (Editor: Chang Ya-ching) 1150505
Choose to stand with facts; your sponsorship is the power that safeguards press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted or utilized without authorization.