H7N9 avian flu strikes China again; over 40 cases reported

BEIJING: The dreaded H7N9 avian flu, which shook China last year with over 130 cases, has struck the country again ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, with two deaths and over 40 cases reported since early this month.

Over 40 human cases of H7N9 have been reported from Shanghai municipality, and Jiangsu, Fujian, Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces, state-run Xinhua news agency reported today.

Four human cases of H7N9 avian flu were reported today, raising the alert on the epidemic.

In one of the new cases, a 71-year-old man from the eastern Jiangsu province is in critical condition, health officials said. Two patients, including a 31-year-old doctor, died of the disease in Shanghai recently.

The World Health Organisation is closely monitoring the situation. Last year, China had reported 134 cases, with 45 fatalities.

The disease resurfaced during the winter as it spreads fast and people are advised to cook their chickens well before eating.

China has come out with a vaccine last year, which is approved by the WHO.

Chinese health authority also strengthened monitoring of cases of pneumonia with unknown cause and influenza, assessing the risk of the epidemic situation and putting forward suggestions.

The National Health and Family Planning Commission said the current cases were scattered, and no mutation of the virus had been identified so far that could affect public health.

According to reports, 3.6 billion trips will be taken during the Lunar New Year festivities, in which poultry is a central part of many families' dinner tables.