China steps up efforts to counter spread of H7N9 bird flu

Several Chinese provinces have stepped up efforts to prevent the spread of H7N9 bird flu after many deaths were reported across the country.
Authorities closed 280 live poultry trading and slaughtering venues in Suining city, southwest China's Sichuan Province, after four human H7N9 cases were reported in the city this year, according to the provincial health authorities.
Commerce officials in Suining have enhanced inspections to crack down on unlicensed poultry businesses, official media reported today.
The action came as Beijing reported an H7N9 avian flu case, the first human infection in the capital city this year, which has already resulted in several deaths in some of the provinces.

A 68-year-old patient, surnamed Zhang, from Langfang City of neighbuoring Hebei Province is in critical condition and receiving treatment, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Zhang developed syndromes on January 29 and received treatment in a local hospital in Langfang. He was transferred to Beijing on February 6 as his condition deteriorated.

Zhang was confirmed to have been infected by the H7N9 strain of avian flu yesterday. He is suspected to have had contact with live poultry.
H7N9 was first reported to have infected humans in China in March 2013. It mostly strikes in winter and spring.
Thirty people died inJiangsu province due to H7N9 avian flu in the last three months. Twenty-one of the 49 people infected with flu died in January.

Fourteen of the 54 people admitted for treatment in December last year died due to the disease.
The central province of Hubei has set up headquarters for the prevention and control of human H7N9 outbreak, according to the provincial Health and Family Planning Commission.
Hubei, neighbouring province has confirmed 19 human H7N9 cases from January 1 to February 9, scattered across several cities.
Two patients have been discharged from hospital after recovering. The province has dispatched 16 inspection teams to check on prevention efforts.
In Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, all live poultry markets have been suspended.
The province has reported 24 H7N9 cases, including five fatalities, this year, Xinhua reported.