Chinese scientists said they have discovered what could lead to a potential treatment for future cases of the dreaded H7N9 bird flu virus, local Chinese media reported on Wednesday.

Researchers of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences said they discovered a human blood protein that is associated with the fatality rate of those infected with the H7N9 virus.

Like Us on Facebook

Based on the study, the human blood protein angiotensin II produced higher blood plasma levels in patients with H7N9. This discovery, the researchers said, could be used to predict physical deterioration of patients.

Angiotensin II is a human protein found in blood plasma, vascular wall, and kidney and heart. Angiotensin II regulates blood pressure and has been linked to acute lung injuries.

According to a specialist in H7N9 prevention, patients with higher level of angiotensin II have more H7N9 viral load particularly in the second week of human infection.

The study showed that patients in critical condition have angiotensin II level that keeps going up while those who were able to recover showed decrease in the level of angiotensin II.

Chinese Academy of Engineering researcher Li Lanjuan said the new discovery could help in clinical practice and further study could pave way for the potential treatment of future H7N9 cases.

The researchers based their findings on the plasma collected from 47 patients inflected with the H7N9 virus. Patients were selected from the cities of Shanghai, Nanjing and Hangzhou.

The study was conducted to determine the correlation between H7N9 viral load and level of human protein angiotensin II.

China has been battling the H7N9 virus, which was first reported in March of last year. The H7N9 virus has affected at least 200 peopled and resulted to the billions of dollars of losses in the country’s poultry industry.

Since last year, thousands of chicken have been killed to prevent the outbreak of the virus. Several online marketplaces in the country have also banned the selling of live chicken and other poultry products.

TagsH7N9 Treatment, H7N9 Update, H7N9 Virus, Bird Flu Treatment