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Avian influenza A viruses cause human infections that range from mild to severe. Currently circulating H5N1 and H7N9 strains can result in fatal pneumonia. Investigators in China report the case of a 73-year-old woman with hypertension, myasthenia gravis, and previous thymectomy who was hospitalized with a febrile respiratory illness and died 9 days after onset, despite intensive support including antiviral medication, mechanical ventilation, and steroids. Studies showed no evidence of bacterial infection.
Influenza A virus, later characterized as H10N8, was isolated from tracheal aspirates. All genes of the isolate were of avian origin; six were from the avian H9N2 virus. The patient's virus preferentially bound an avian-like receptor that …