Increase in H7N9 Bird Flu Cases in South China's Guangdong

Three more human cases of H7N9 bird flu have added the tally to 28 in south China's Guangdong Province since the start of the year, according to the local authorities.

Guangdong, which borders Hong Kong, has entered the high-incidence period for bird flu, which usually crops up in winter and spring seasons.

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The provincial health and family planning commission in a statement said that the three cases were reported last Wednesday in cities of Shenzhen, Foshan and Meizhou.

While a 42-year-old woman from Foshan was in critical condition, a 59-year-old man from Meizhou and a 21-year-old man from Shenzhen were in stable condition, the authorities said

Several cities in Guangdong have taken measures to restrict live poultry trade to curb the spread of the disease, raising concerns about the impact on the industry.

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The deadly H7N9 virus has been discovered in 120 chickens imported from the nearby Chinese city of Huizhou, owing to which the Hong Kong authorities plan to slaughter some 15,000 birds.

Shanghai, Fujian, Jiangxi and Zhejiang in east China have all reported human cases of H7N9 this winter, in addition to Guangdong.

H7N9 is a bird flu strain first reported to have infected humans in 2013.

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Source-Medindia

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