Health authorities in the southern Chinese province of
Guizhou have confirmed a new human case of H7N9 avian influenza, state radio
said, bringing the total number of human infections of the highly pathogenic
strain to 19 this winter.
The 49-year old man, who is a chicken trader, was being
treated in hospital in Qiannan prefecture, the report said on Sunday. The local
authorities were taking precautions to try and prevent the infection from
spreading, the report said.
A total of 19 people have been infected with bird flu in
China so far this winter, all with the H7N9 strain, killing at least three of
them. Regional fears of a major bird flu outbreak have been raised by a record
outbreak of avian influenze in poultry in South Korea as well as infections in
birds in Japan.
The last major bird flu outbreak in mainland China – from
late 2013 to early 2014 – killed 36 people and led to more than $6 billion in
losses for the agricultural sector. China has culled more than 170,000 birds in
four provinces since October and closed some live poultry markets after people
and birds were infected by strains of the avian flu.
The outbreak among poultry has been the H5N6 type, another
highly pathogenic strain of the disease. However, The H7N9 strain is highly
pathogenic in humans, causing severe respiratory disease, but is not virulent
among birds, making it nearly impossible for farmers to detect, experts said.
China’s Ministry of Agriculture said on Friday the recent
outbreaks of bird flu have been handled in a “timely and effective” manner
without spreading and have not affected chicken products or prices.
Source: Pakistan Today
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