April 16, 2013

Xiamen, China, sees rising seafood sales amidst H7N9 infections

About 60 H7N9 human infection cases have been reported in the Chinese cities of Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Henan and Beijing.

Death toll from the new deadly strain, which had not previously been detected in humans, has reached 13.

The deadly H7N9 bird flu virus scare has taken its toll on the poultry industry in most Chinese cities including Xiamen, as consumers avoid poultry products due to fears of infection.

Compared with the depressed poultry market, the seafood market in Xiamen has witnessed an unprecedented boom. Seafood products have become the top choice for residents in the city. The increased demand has driven up seafood prices. Prices of the most favoured varieties, including prawn and shellfish, have almost doubled.

Xiamen usually sees seafood sales boom during the period as the annual summer fishing ban (from May 15 to August 1) approaches. Fears over poultry have further boosted sales this year, said an industry spokesperson.

According to the Xiamen Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, no H7N9 cases have been discovered in the city so far.