China Warns Of Bird Flu in Winter Time

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       China Warns Of Bird Flu in Winter Time 

By Matthew Williams 

11:21, December 11th 2007 0 votes

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Chinese authorities released a warning of a “very high” possibility of outbreaks of bird flu in the next few months of winter and spring. Health officials are searching for the link between a son and his father, who both got infected with the virus. 

Last week a 24-year-old man surnamed Lu died after he was infected with the H5N1 strain of bird flu. His death is the first one in the country since June and brings the death toll from the bird flu to 17.

His father, 52, also surnamed Lu, was hospitalized of bird flu last week. Questions were raised of how he was infected.

Xinhua said that the son hadn’t had any contact with dead poultry and that no outbreak of bird flu was reported in Jiangsu province, home of the two men, Reuters reports.

China has the biggest poultry population in the world and is the main country fighting against bird flu.

Vice Agriculture Minister Yin Chengjie said Tuesday expressed his fears for the winter and spring months, saying he is not optimistic because in this period the virus is very contagious, Voice of America informs. 

Yin also said that the methods of poultry breeding, slaughter, delivery need to be improved and that in some regions the prevention measures were not completed. 

He urged local authorities to hurry on the immunization process and testing of poultry at the borders and in wetlands. 

Chinese health officials are searching for an answer of how the Chinese man, whose son died of bird flu, got the disease. They fear that the virus could duffer mutation and be transmitted from person to person. 

According to the World Health Organization, in China there have been 26 human infections with the virus of bird flu in recent years, 17 of the cases ended in death. 

Last months outbreaks of bird flu were reported in South Korea, Burma and Hong Kong.

Since its first outbreak in 2003 over 200 people have died of it, according to the WHO. 

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coyote Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: April 25 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 8395	Post Options Post Reply Quote coyote Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: China Warns Of Bird Flu in Winter Time Posted: December 11 2007 at 4:11am
	China Warns Of Bird Flu in Winter Time By Matthew Williams 11:21, December 11th 2007 0 votes Vote this article Chinese authorities released a warning of a “very high” possibility of outbreaks of bird flu in the next few months of winter and spring. Health officials are searching for the link between a son and his father, who both got infected with the virus. Last week a 24-year-old man surnamed Lu died after he was infected with the H5N1 strain of bird flu. His death is the first one in the country since June and brings the death toll from the bird flu to 17. His father, 52, also surnamed Lu, was hospitalized of bird flu last week. Questions were raised of how he was infected. Xinhua said that the son hadn’t had any contact with dead poultry and that no outbreak of bird flu was reported in Jiangsu province, home of the two men, Reuters reports. China has the biggest poultry population in the world and is the main country fighting against bird flu. Vice Agriculture Minister Yin Chengjie said Tuesday expressed his fears for the winter and spring months, saying he is not optimistic because in this period the virus is very contagious, Voice of America informs. Yin also said that the methods of poultry breeding, slaughter, delivery need to be improved and that in some regions the prevention measures were not completed. He urged local authorities to hurry on the immunization process and testing of poultry at the borders and in wetlands. Chinese health officials are searching for an answer of how the Chinese man, whose son died of bird flu, got the disease. They fear that the virus could duffer mutation and be transmitted from person to person. According to the World Health Organization, in China there have been 26 human infections with the virus of bird flu in recent years, 17 of the cases ended in death. Last months outbreaks of bird flu were reported in South Korea, Burma and Hong Kong. Since its first outbreak in 2003 over 200 people have died of it, according to the WHO.
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