According to official figures, the death toll from the H7N9 bird flu outbreak in China has risen to 31, with four more people dying of the virus in China's eastern provinces.
The number of people infected also increased to 129, official statistics showed, up two since Thursday.
Bird Flu
Bird flu (avian influenza/avian flu) is a disease caused by an influenza virus (H5N1) that primarily affects birds but can infect humans also.
Advertisement
The four new deaths included two from Jiangsu province and one each from Zhejiang and Anhui, according to figures from China's Health and Family Planning Commission released late Monday.
No further details on the deaths were revealed by the commission.
The virus was first reported in late March, with most cases confined to eastern China, and only one reported outside the mainland, in Taiwan.
Experts fear the possibility of the virus mutating into a form easily transmissible between humans, with the potential to trigger a pandemic.
But the World Health Organization has said there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission.
Source: AFP
The virus was first reported in late March, with most cases confined to eastern China, and only one reported outside the mainland, in Taiwan.
Experts fear the possibility of the virus mutating into a form easily transmissible between humans, with the potential to trigger a pandemic.
But the World Health Organization has said there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission.
Source: AFP
H7N9 Bird Flu Virus Poses a Serious Global Threat
Health experts have warned that the H7N9 bird flu virus could emerge as a global threat.
Advertisement
 Strains of Avian Flu Viruses Found In Chinese PigsResearchers in China have found three strains of avian influenza viruses in pigs. | Advertisement
|
After Bird Flu, Now Flu Infections Rising Among Chinese Pigs
While still reeling under the impact of the deadly H7N9 bird flu virus, a study shows flu infections were rising among pigs raised for slaughter on farms in south and southeastern China.
Advertisement
Recommended Readings
Latest Bird Flu News
The study reports documented cases of A (H3N8) avian influenza viruses crossing species boundaries and affecting a range of mammals, including dogs and horses.
Researchers monitored the continuing avian flu pandemic to gauge its evolving risk to both humans and birds.
Bird flu in Brazil: Authorities are watching if the bird flu virus H5N1 is mutating into a form which can spread amongst humans.
Bird flu outbreak: New mutation in avian influenza virus (H5N1) could be the next human pandemic, warn health experts.
Exposure to live or dead poultry contaminated with avian influenza A virus results in the increase of human cases of avian influenza infection.
