China bird flu crisis claims new victims as death toll rises to 9 - CNN

China bird flu crisis claims new victims as death toll rises to 9

By Paul Armstrong, CNN

Updated 0103 GMT (0903 HKT) April 10, 2013

A janitor sprays disinfectant over empty chicken cages at a market in New Taipei City, Taiwan, on Monday, April 29. Asian countries have stepped up vigilance against the spread of H7N9 bird flu after a case of the deadly strain showed up in Taiwan, the first outside mainland China.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – A janitor sprays disinfectant over empty chicken cages at a market in New Taipei City, Taiwan, on Monday, April 29. Asian countries have stepped up vigilance against the spread of H7N9 bird flu after a case of the deadly strain showed up in Taiwan, the first outside mainland China.
Hide Caption
1 of 37
A New Taipei City Department of Environmental Protection truck sprays a virus disinfectant in a park on April 29.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – A New Taipei City Department of Environmental Protection truck sprays a virus disinfectant in a park on April 29.
Hide Caption
2 of 37
Doctors hold a consultation on the treatment for a patient surnamed Luo, the province's first human case of H7N9 avian influenza, at the No. 2 Hospital in Longyan City, in southeast China's Fujian Province, on April 27. Luo, 65, a local resident, showed symptoms of repeated coughing, low fever and a tight chest on April 18. Luo tested positive for the H7N9 virus on Friday by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Thirty-seven people who have been in close contact with Luo have not shown any abnormal symptoms so far.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – Doctors hold a consultation on the treatment for a patient surnamed Luo, the province's first human case of H7N9 avian influenza, at the No. 2 Hospital in Longyan City, in southeast China's Fujian Province, on April 27. Luo, 65, a local resident, showed symptoms of repeated coughing, low fever and a tight chest on April 18. Luo tested positive for the H7N9 virus on Friday by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Thirty-seven people who have been in close contact with Luo have not shown any abnormal symptoms so far.
Hide Caption
3 of 37
A vendor stands by her chicken coop in Fuqing, southeast China's Fujian Province on April 26. At least 20 people have died from the virus which, while common in birds, hadn't been detected in humans before the first cases were reported in March.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – A vendor stands by her chicken coop in Fuqing, southeast China's Fujian Province on April 26. At least 20 people have died from the virus which, while common in birds, hadn't been detected in humans before the first cases were reported in March.
Hide Caption
4 of 37
A woman wearing a medical mask walks past vending machines that sell masks outside National Taiwan University Hospital in Taipei on April 26. A 53-year-old Taiwanese businessman has contracted the H7N9 strain of bird flu while traveling in China, Taiwan's Health Department said on April 24. It's the first reported case outside of mainland China. The man was hospitalized after becoming ill three days after returning from Suzhou on April 9.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – A woman wearing a medical mask walks past vending machines that sell masks outside National Taiwan University Hospital in Taipei on April 26. A 53-year-old Taiwanese businessman has contracted the H7N9 strain of bird flu while traveling in China, Taiwan's Health Department said on April 24. It's the first reported case outside of mainland China. The man was hospitalized after becoming ill three days after returning from Suzhou on April 9.
Hide Caption
5 of 37
Disease control workers examine a chicken in a poultry farm in Fuqing on April 26.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – Disease control workers examine a chicken in a poultry farm in Fuqing on April 26.
Hide Caption
6 of 37
Three people wearing masks walk outside the National Taiwan University Hospital in Taipei on Thursday, April 25. China has reported 83 cases of H7N9 avian influenza.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – Three people wearing masks walk outside the National Taiwan University Hospital in Taipei on Thursday, April 25. China has reported 83 cases of H7N9 avian influenza.
Hide Caption
7 of 37
An H7N9 bird flu patient walks in the corridor of a hospital after his recovery and approval for discharge in Bozhou, in central China's Anhui Province, on Friday, April 19.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – An H7N9 bird flu patient walks in the corridor of a hospital after his recovery and approval for discharge in Bozhou, in central China's Anhui Province, on Friday, April 19.
Hide Caption
8 of 37
Chickens line the walls at a poultry farm on Thursday, April 18, in Yuncheng, China.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – Chickens line the walls at a poultry farm on Thursday, April 18, in Yuncheng, China.
Hide Caption
9 of 37
A 7-year-old girl, who was the first confirmed bird flu case in Beijing, is discharged from Beijing Ditan Hospital on Wednesday, April 17.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – A 7-year-old girl, who was the first confirmed bird flu case in Beijing, is discharged from Beijing Ditan Hospital on Wednesday, April 17.
Hide Caption
10 of 37
Health workers collect blood samples from chickens at a poultry farm in Taizhou, China, on April 17.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – Health workers collect blood samples from chickens at a poultry farm in Taizhou, China, on April 17.
Hide Caption
11 of 37
Chickens roost at a poultry farm in Taizhou, China, on Wednesday, April 17.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – Chickens roost at a poultry farm in Taizhou, China, on Wednesday, April 17.
Hide Caption
12 of 37
Pedestrians in Shanghai wear face masks to protect themselves from the H7N9 bird flu virus on Tuesday, April 16.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – Pedestrians in Shanghai wear face masks to protect themselves from the H7N9 bird flu virus on Tuesday, April 16.
Hide Caption
13 of 37
A man throws ducklings into a stove at a duck farm in Zhangzhou in China's Fujian province on Sunday, April 14. The farm has had to kill more than 400,000 newborn ducks every week after the H7N9 bird flu affected the domestic poultry market.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – A man throws ducklings into a stove at a duck farm in Zhangzhou in China's Fujian province on Sunday, April 14. The farm has had to kill more than 400,000 newborn ducks every week after the H7N9 bird flu affected the domestic poultry market.
Hide Caption
14 of 37
A woman uses a lamp to illuminate a batch of eggs in the hatchery of a duck farm in Zhangzhou on April 14.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – A woman uses a lamp to illuminate a batch of eggs in the hatchery of a duck farm in Zhangzhou on April 14.
Hide Caption
15 of 37
Cheng Jun, vice president of Beijing's Ditan hospital, shows a video of the first bird flu victim in intensive care during a press conference on Saturday, April 13.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – Cheng Jun, vice president of Beijing's Ditan hospital, shows a video of the first bird flu victim in intensive care during a press conference on Saturday, April 13.
Hide Caption
16 of 37
Officials in Hong Kong test poultry at the border with mainland China on April 11 as authorities step up measures against the spread of the deadly H7N9 bird flu.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – Officials in Hong Kong test poultry at the border with mainland China on April 11 as authorities step up measures against the spread of the deadly H7N9 bird flu.
Hide Caption
17 of 37
Empty cages are seen at a closed bird market on April 10 in Shanghai.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – Empty cages are seen at a closed bird market on April 10 in Shanghai.
Hide Caption
18 of 37
A technician conducts tests for the H7N9 bird flu virus at the Kunming Center for Disease Control on April 10 in Kunming, China.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – A technician conducts tests for the H7N9 bird flu virus at the Kunming Center for Disease Control on April 10 in Kunming, China.
Hide Caption
19 of 37
Medical workers take part in a drill that simulates human infection of the H7N9 bird flu virus on April 9 in Hefei, China.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – Medical workers take part in a drill that simulates human infection of the H7N9 bird flu virus on April 9 in Hefei, China.
Hide Caption
20 of 37
People wear masks to protect themselves from the H7N9 virus, or bird flu, while riding the underground in Shanghai on Tuesday, April 9.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – People wear masks to protect themselves from the H7N9 virus, or bird flu, while riding the underground in Shanghai on Tuesday, April 9.
Hide Caption
21 of 37
Employees work on the production line of Shufeng Jiedu Capsule, an herbal medicine for treating avian influenza patients, at a workshop of Anhui Jiren Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd on Monday, April 8 in Bozhou, China.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – Employees work on the production line of Shufeng Jiedu Capsule, an herbal medicine for treating avian influenza patients, at a workshop of Anhui Jiren Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd on Monday, April 8 in Bozhou, China.
Hide Caption
22 of 37
A public park staff carries a cage to catch pigeons at a public area in People's Square, downtown Shanghai on Saturday, April 6. Shanghai municipal government has ordered workers to remove pigeons from public area to prevent the spread of H7N9 bird flu to humans, local media reported.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – A public park staff carries a cage to catch pigeons at a public area in People's Square, downtown Shanghai on Saturday, April 6. Shanghai municipal government has ordered workers to remove pigeons from public area to prevent the spread of H7N9 bird flu to humans, local media reported.
Hide Caption
23 of 37
A boy looks at pigeons at a public park in People's Square in Shanghaion on April 6. Health authorities in China said on Saturday that the country's 16 confirmed H7N9 bird flu cases were isolated and showed no sign that it is transmitted from human to human, Xinhua News Agency reported.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – A boy looks at pigeons at a public park in People's Square in Shanghaion on April 6. Health authorities in China said on Saturday that the country's 16 confirmed H7N9 bird flu cases were isolated and showed no sign that it is transmitted from human to human, Xinhua News Agency reported.
Hide Caption
24 of 37
A public park worker catches a dove in People's Square in downtown Shanghai on April 6.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – A public park worker catches a dove in People's Square in downtown Shanghai on April 6.
Hide Caption
25 of 37
A public park worker places a dove in a cage in Shanghai on April 6.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – A public park worker places a dove in a cage in Shanghai on April 6.
Hide Caption
26 of 37
A masked security guard stands outside Taipei Hoping Hospital on April 6, where new isolation units have been set up to treat potential new avian influenza cases.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – A masked security guard stands outside Taipei Hoping Hospital on April 6, where new isolation units have been set up to treat potential new avian influenza cases.
Hide Caption
27 of 37
Taiwan's Health Minister Chiu Wen-ta checks the negative pressure system in a isolation room as he inspects preparations for the virus in Taipei City Hospital Heping Branch, on April 6.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – Taiwan's Health Minister Chiu Wen-ta checks the negative pressure system in a isolation room as he inspects preparations for the virus in Taipei City Hospital Heping Branch, on April 6.
Hide Caption
28 of 37
A woman wears a face mask inside a subway station in Shanghai, China, on Friday, April 5. The Chinese minister of agriculture said Thursday it had discovered the H7N9 virus in samples taken from pigeons at Huhai agricultural market, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – A woman wears a face mask inside a subway station in Shanghai, China, on Friday, April 5. The Chinese minister of agriculture said Thursday it had discovered the H7N9 virus in samples taken from pigeons at Huhai agricultural market, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Hide Caption
29 of 37
Health workers gather dead chickens at the Huhai poultry wholesale market, where the H7N9 bird flu virus was detected in pigeon samples, in Shanghai on April 5.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – Health workers gather dead chickens at the Huhai poultry wholesale market, where the H7N9 bird flu virus was detected in pigeon samples, in Shanghai on April 5.
Hide Caption
30 of 37
Cabin attendants are seen on a thermographic imaging device after their arrival from Shanghai at the quarantine station at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo on April 5.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – Cabin attendants are seen on a thermographic imaging device after their arrival from Shanghai at the quarantine station at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo on April 5.
Hide Caption
31 of 37
Men wear face masks at a shopping mall in downtown Shanghai on April 5.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – Men wear face masks at a shopping mall in downtown Shanghai on April 5.
Hide Caption
32 of 37
Chinese health workers collect bags of dead chickens at the Huhai wholesale market on April 5.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – Chinese health workers collect bags of dead chickens at the Huhai wholesale market on April 5.
Hide Caption
33 of 37
A policeman goes after a chicken that broke loose as Chinese health workers started culling chickens at Huhai wholesale market on April 5.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – A policeman goes after a chicken that broke loose as Chinese health workers started culling chickens at Huhai wholesale market on April 5.
Hide Caption
34 of 37
A woman cleans a birdcage at a store in Taipei, Taiwan, on Thursday, April 4.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – A woman cleans a birdcage at a store in Taipei, Taiwan, on Thursday, April 4.
Hide Caption
35 of 37
Staff members from Taiwan's Center for Disease Control stand at the entrance of Sungshan Airport in Taipei.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – Staff members from Taiwan's Center for Disease Control stand at the entrance of Sungshan Airport in Taipei.
Hide Caption
36 of 37
A passenger has her temperature checked by a CDC staff member at the entrance of Sungshan Airport in Taipei.
Photos: Photos: Bird flu scare spreads
Bird flu scare spreads – A passenger has her temperature checked by a CDC staff member at the entrance of Sungshan Airport in Taipei.
Hide Caption
37 of 37
01 bird flu 042902 bird flu 042901 bird flu 042802 bird flu 042601 bird flu 042603 bird flu 0426china bird flu 042501 bird flu 042102 bird flu 042103 bird flu 0421china bird flu 0418china bird flu 041801 china bird flu 041603 china bird flu 041604 china bird flu 041605 china bird flu 04163 bird flu 04122 bird flu 04121 bird flu 04124 bird flu 041201 bird flu 040902 bird flu 040906 bird flu 040605 bird flu 0406birdflue 01 0406bird flu two 0406bird flu 04 0406bird flu 03 040601 bird flu 040502 bird flu 040503 bird flu 040504 bird flu 040505 bird flu 040506 bird flu 040507 bird flu 040508 bird flu 040509 bird flu 0405

Story highlights

  • Two bird flu deaths occur in Anhui and Jiangsu provinces, a government agency says
  • There are 28 infections nationwide, but no human-to-human transmission, it adds
  • China's vice premier urges more transparency in information about virus
China's bird flu crisis showed no sign of easing Tuesday as the death toll rose to nine, a government agency said.
The National Health and Family Planning Commission announced two more fatalities Tuesday afternoon -- one in Anhui province and the other in Jiangsu province.
These are the first bird flu-related deaths reported this year in those two provinces. Five deaths -- and just less than half of the 28 confirmed infections nationwide -- have been in Shanghai, according to the Chinese commission.
The virus had been found in pigeons but had not previously been discovered in humans until a series of cases were reported in China last week.
In Shanghai, more than 100,000 live birds have been killed in the past week at live-poultry markets across the city in an effort to contain the problem, the Shanghai Municipal Ministry of Agriculture said. A number of cities across China have also announced trading suspensions.
Poultry markets closed over bird flu
Poultry markets closed over bird flu

    JUST WATCHED

    Poultry markets closed over bird flu

Replay
More Videos ...

MUST WATCH

Poultry markets closed over bird flu 01:55
China on high alert over bird flu
China on high alert over bird flu

    JUST WATCHED

    China on high alert over bird flu

Replay
More Videos ...

MUST WATCH

China on high alert over bird flu 01:20
During a news conference in Beijing on Monday, World Health Organization and Chinese health ministry officials tried to reassure the public about the outbreak, saying they would continue to jointly monitor the behavior of the virus.
"Although we do not know the source of the infection, at this time there is no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission," said the WHO's Michael O'Leary.
The Chinese health agency also said Tuesday that there are no reported cases of human-to-human transmission.
Liang Wannian, director of the H7N9 influenza prevention and control office under the National Health and Family Planning Commission, told reporters that 621 close contacts of infected patients had been monitored with no reported abnormalities.
Meanwhile, Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong called for further efforts to prevent the spread of H7N9 infections and the treatment of patients after visiting the country's disease control center on Monday, Xinhua reported.
She also urged more transparency in information about the virus and said any new infection should be discovered, reported, diagnosed and treated as early as possible. She added that President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang were paying close attention to the crisis.
In 2003, during the SARS outbreak, Chinese authorities were accused of acting slowly and concealing the extent of the problem in an effort to ease fears about the spread of the epidemic.