Live-Animal Markets and Influenza A (H7N9) Virus Infection

Abstract

To the Editor: A recent outbreak of a previously unrecognized novel reassortant avian influenza A (H7N9) virus in China1 had resulted in 131 documented cases and 36 deaths as of May 16.2 Although some patients had a history of contact with live poultry or visiting live-animal markets before the onset of illness,3 the source of infection remains unclear. A 45-year-old woman was admitted to a hospital on March 23, 2013, with a 5-day history of fever (temperature, 41.0°C), cough, expectoration, malaise, and shortness of breath. Computed tomography of the chest that was performed 2 days before admission showed infection in . . .