Table 2.

Confirmed Human Infections With Avian Influenza Viruses

Year	Country	Subtype	Characteristics
1997	Hong Kong*	H5N1	18 people were infected, 6 of whom died
1999	Hong Kong	H9N2	Virus was isolated from 2 children with mild influenza-like symptoms; both recovered
2003	Hong Kong	H5N1	Infection occurred among 2 family members after returning from China, 1 of whom died; source of infection remains uncertain
2003	The Netherlands*	H7N7	Infection occurred in 83 humans (mostly conjunctivitis), 1 of whom died
2003	Hong Kong	H9N2	Child was hospitalized with influenza symptoms and recovered
2003	Several Asian countries*†	H5N1	This is the largest outbreak of avian influenza in poultry ever reported
2004	British Columbia, Canada	H7N7	Infection (mostly conjunctivitis) occurred in 5 humans

^*Limited person-to-person transmission occurred.

^†As of March 8, 2004, outbreaks in poultry have been confirmed in 8 countries: Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. In most of these countries, this is the first outbreak of avian influenza.