Bird flu in China

 

China’s death toll from a new strain of bird flu rose to six people as Shanghai began slaughtering birds at a local market.

The latest death was of a 64-year-old man in Zhejiang province. None of the 55 people who had close contact with him has shown symptoms of infection. Another 67-year-old in Zhejiang is in critical condition. Of the 16 confirmed human infections of the H7N9 strain of avian influenza, six are in Shanghai.

There’s been no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the virus, and it’s too soon to say if the cases signal a pandemic, the Geneva-based WHO said.

“The apparent high death rate at present is of concern,” said Robert Booy, head of clinical research at the National Centre for Immunisation Research & Surveillance based at the University of Sydney. “More people with milder symptoms need to be tested to determine if we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg of a more widespread mild infection,” he said in an e- mailed statement from the Australian Science Media Centre.

Shanghai will close all live poultry markets beginning tomorrow. Markets in the Songjiang and Minhang districts were closed yesterday. The city has destroyed 20,536 birds so. 

No virus was detected in any of the people who came into close contact with those who were ill.

Health officials are investigating the extent of the outbreak, the source of infection and the mode of transmission, according to the WHO.