The Bird Flu Death Toll in China Increased to 161

Health officers, who are bound to protect cull poultry at the level of the whole market, argued that the bird flu death toll in China reached 161, this being considered the worst outbreak since 2009. The trade in live poultry was suspended after the strain of the virus was detected at a local street market back in June 2016, in Hong Kong. On Monday, March 13, China reported 161 cases of bird flu in humans.

• In China, the bird flu death toll has dramatically increased.
• Health officers have been taken care of culling poultry.
• China is known to be the second-biggest poultry consumer in the world.

Apparently, 61 persons died after infection with H7N9 bird flu last month. The number of infected persons is higher than the one registered in previous years. During the bird flu outbreak this winter, the death toll reached 161 since October. Last month, the total number of bird flu cases was lower than the one recorded back in January 1979.

However, based on the data provided by the National Health and Family Planning Commission, the number was the highest one registered since February 2013 when the deadly bird flu strain was identified. Towards the end of this winter, the death toll from bird influenza infections indicated a significant decrease. The new information shows the scale of the virus’ spread among China’s citizens.

Even when the Chinese disease control specialists announced the public to pay attention to the dangerous virus, people still managed to contract the bird flu strain. Japan and South Korea are also fighting against their own avian influenza outbreaks. Health officers in these two countries had also culled millions of chickens.

The H7N9 strain indicates almost no symptoms in poultry. That is why this was considered a factor which reduced the number of harvested poultry in China. The country is known to be the third massive producer of broiler chickens. Moreover, China is the second-biggest poultry consumer. The total number of 141 cases of bird flu in humans during the first two months of 2017 has surpassed the annual totals for bird influenza in China in recent years.

Back in 2010, about 147 people died after being infected with the H1N1 strain of this terrible virus. Local health authorities have recently stated that four human infections with bird flu have been reported in eastern Jiangxi Province.

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