China takes new steps as bird flu in humans tops 20; new death confirmed

Authorities in several areas of China are confirming that the outbreak of H7N9 bird flu in humans now stands at 21 nationwide, including a total seven deaths in Shanghai and Zhejiang, according to the South China Morning Post and the Wall Street Journal. Two new cases in Shanghai and one in Anhui were confirmed even as Hong Kong government officials announced they could not rule out a chance of an outbreak in their city. The National Health and Family Planning Commission said the cases so far were not the result of human-to-human transmission and China’s Food and Drug Administration is preparing to make more of the anti-influenza drug Peramivir available. Read More