China Fights Spread of Deadly Avian Virus

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Chris Buckley February 18, 2017

The Chinese authorities are battling a surge in H7N9 “bird flu” infections, and have shuttered live poultry markets across the country after dozens of people in recent weeks were killed by the disease.

As of Friday, health officials confirmed eight deaths and 77 diagnosed cases just in February, according to Xinhua, the state news agency.

Last month, 192 people in China learned they had the virus, and 79 of them died, according to official numbers released on Tuesday. The strain, H7N9, is an avian influenza virus that can infect people who come in close contact with infected live or newly killed birds.