Transmission potential of the novel avian influenza A(H7N9) infection in mainland China

We propose and analyze a mathematical model to mimic its transmission dynamics to assess the transmission potential of the novel avian influenza A(H7N9) virus. By fitting the model to data of the confirmed human cases we estimate the reproduction number for human-to-human transmission as 0.467 (95% CI 0.387-0.651). Simulation results indicate that approximate twofold of the current human-to-human transmission rate or periodic outbreaks of avian influenza in poultry may induce an outbreak in human. Through the recent limited transmission potential of the novel avian influenza A(H7N9) virus, a new outbreak may be possible due to virus mutation and adaption or periodic outbreaks in poultry, and hence careful surveillance and persistent intervention strategies in poultry have to be required.