Human Infection with H7N9 Virus

To the Editor: As reported by Gao et al. and Uyeki and Cox (May 16 issue)^1,2 and by Li et al. (online April 24, available at NEJM.org),³ emerging human infections with avian influenza A (H7N9) virus in China have raised global concerns. In Taiwan, we immediately listed H7N9 influenza as a notifiable disease, developed a real-time reverse-transcriptase–polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) assay, and activated the Central Epidemic Command Center for interdepartmental coordination.⁴ As of April 25, 2013, a total of 133 patients who had recently traveled to China were reported to have suspected H7N9 influenza (Table 1). On April 24, severe pneumonia . . .