April 9, 2013

In an effort to get ahead of the H7N9 avian influenza which has claimed four lives in the Chinese city, Shanghai is going to temporarily close-down its live poultry markets.

Two other people are being treated in for the bird flu virus in the city bringing the total human cases of the disease to 14 in the nation.

It was reported that more than 20,500 chickens, ducks, geese and pigeons from a wholesale market were slaughtered Friday (Apr 5) after the H7N9 bird flu virus was detected from samples of pigeons in the market.

The city will also strengthen monitoring over the H7N9 virus in schools, kindergartens and other public facilities.

Chinese officials maintain there is no evidence of the virus passing from one human to another. Of the 119 people who have had close contact with H7N9 patients in Shanghai, only one of them has developed symptoms of a cough, runny nose and itch.