H7N9 Transmittable via Droplet Infection: UTokyo|東京大學研究:H7N9禽流病毒可飛沫傳染

Bird flu, has been proven to be able to be transmitted through droplet infection. Researchers at University of Tokyo placed two cages seven-centimeter apart, one cage is filled with healthy birds while the other is infected. A few days later the healthy ferret was infected, and both ended up dying. The team also worry that the virus has mutated into a new type of flu which could lead to a global epidemic.


Professor Yoshihiro Kawaoka from the University of Tokyo is leading a team of researchers to collect virus samples in Hokkaido. The team has confirmed that the H7N9 strand of bird flu can be transmitted through droplet infection.

The H7N9 strand of bird flu can be transmitted through the air. Therefore, it's possible that humans could be infected.

During their study, the team first infected a ferret with H7N9, and placed another healthy ferret in a cage 7 centimeters away. Four days later, the healthy ferret was infected, and both ended up dying. The researchers also found traces of H7N9 virus 80 centimeters away from the cage of the first ferret, and they concluded that the virus can be transmitted through droplet infection. Professor Yoshihiro is worried that the virus could lead to a global infection, and people must be on alert.

According to our estimation, it is indeed possible for the virus to be transmitted among animals via droplet infection. But, it takes a large amount of virus in the droplet to actually make the transmission. So far, we have detected any case of the virus transmitting between human subjects. But we'll continue to monitor the potential danger in this regard, and to study way to prevent it.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said that they cannot confirm that H7N9 can be transmitted among people. But they do not rule out such possibility, especially when there's a large amount of such virus in the droplets. People can recover from an average cold in about one week, but H7N9 could lead to other complications, such as pneumonia. Since first case was found in China in 2013, there have been five Taiwanese patients who were infected, and two of them died. The death rate is 40 percent. The Japanese government has decided to stock up on new H7N9 vaccine in order to prevent a potential epidemic. On the other hand, the CDC said there is no vaccine available yet in Taiwan, and they have advised the public to frequently wash their hands and to avoid making contact in live stock market in China.