This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/apr/06/bird-flu-threat-shanghai-markets
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Bird flu threat leads to closure of poultry markets in Shanghai | Bird flu threat leads to closure of poultry markets in Shanghai |
| (10 days later) | |
| Chinese officials have shut down all live poultry markets in Shanghai and ordered a cull of birds in a bid to halt the spread of an infection that has killed six people. | Chinese officials have shut down all live poultry markets in Shanghai and ordered a cull of birds in a bid to halt the spread of an infection that has killed six people. |
| Shanghai's government reported two more cases of human infection of the H7N9 virus on Saturday, a 74-year-old and a 66-year-old. | Shanghai's government reported two more cases of human infection of the H7N9 virus on Saturday, a 74-year-old and a 66-year-old. |
| Health officials believe people are contracting the H7N9 virus through direct contact with infected fowl and say there is no evidence it is spreading easily between people. | Health officials believe people are contracting the H7N9 virus through direct contact with infected fowl and say there is no evidence it is spreading easily between people. |
| Shanghai has been ordered by the agriculture ministry to halt its live poultry trade and slaughter all fowl in two markets where the virus has been found. Xinhua news agency said authorities also planned to cull birds at the live poultry market in Hangzhou, the capital city of Zhejiang province, where the H7N9 virus was also detected. | Shanghai has been ordered by the agriculture ministry to halt its live poultry trade and slaughter all fowl in two markets where the virus has been found. Xinhua news agency said authorities also planned to cull birds at the live poultry market in Hangzhou, the capital city of Zhejiang province, where the H7N9 virus was also detected. |
| Over 20,000 birds have been culled in the Huhuai market, where traces of the virus were found earlier this week. | Over 20,000 birds have been culled in the Huhuai market, where traces of the virus were found earlier this week. |
| Officials in Shanghai ordered all live poultry markets in the city closed on Saturday, leaving the food stalls empty and signs stating that the market had been closed until further notice. | Officials in Shanghai ordered all live poultry markets in the city closed on Saturday, leaving the food stalls empty and signs stating that the market had been closed until further notice. |
| The new strain of bird flu has infected 16 people in China, all in the east of the country. Six people have died, and the outbreak has spread concern overseas and sparked a sell-off in airline shares in Europe and Hong Kong. | The new strain of bird flu has infected 16 people in China, all in the east of the country. Six people have died, and the outbreak has spread concern overseas and sparked a sell-off in airline shares in Europe and Hong Kong. |
| Chinese health authorities are actively monitoring 400 people who have been in contact with H7N9 patients, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), which says the virus cannot be transmitted from person to person. | Chinese health authorities are actively monitoring 400 people who have been in contact with H7N9 patients, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), which says the virus cannot be transmitted from person to person. |
| Scientists are particularly concerned about two of the virus's traits. H7N9 does not show symptoms in infected birds, allowing it to spread rapidly without detection. It also seems to be mutating quickly, meaning it could become contagious among humans. | Scientists are particularly concerned about two of the virus's traits. H7N9 does not show symptoms in infected birds, allowing it to spread rapidly without detection. It also seems to be mutating quickly, meaning it could become contagious among humans. |
| The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention announced it was developing a vaccine for the virus. The commercial production of a H7N9 vaccine commercially has become a subject of hot debate among public health experts, according to Reuters. | The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention announced it was developing a vaccine for the virus. The commercial production of a H7N9 vaccine commercially has become a subject of hot debate among public health experts, according to Reuters. |
| "There is a possibility now that flu researchers will all rush to work on H7N9 and grants will be awarded for intensive research to develop vaccines … and that could be pouring money down a drain because it could be that the barriers for this virus are high enough that we don't need to worry about it," said Wendy Barclay, a flu virologist at Imperial College, London. | "There is a possibility now that flu researchers will all rush to work on H7N9 and grants will be awarded for intensive research to develop vaccines … and that could be pouring money down a drain because it could be that the barriers for this virus are high enough that we don't need to worry about it," said Wendy Barclay, a flu virologist at Imperial College, London. |
| On Friday, H7N9 was the most-discussed topic on the social network Sina Weibo. Most threads concerned ways to prevent the disease but suspicions of a coverup were also widely voiced. Many users wondered why the Shanghai authorities waited weeks to announce the first two cases in March. | On Friday, H7N9 was the most-discussed topic on the social network Sina Weibo. Most threads concerned ways to prevent the disease but suspicions of a coverup were also widely voiced. Many users wondered why the Shanghai authorities waited weeks to announce the first two cases in March. |
| Earlier this week, a self-identified hospital administrator in Nanjing leaked a bird flu diagnosis on to Weibo. Although the post was initially censored, health officials later confirmed the case. | Earlier this week, a self-identified hospital administrator in Nanjing leaked a bird flu diagnosis on to Weibo. Although the post was initially censored, health officials later confirmed the case. |
| "If there is anything that Sars has taught China and its government, it's that one cannot be too careful or too honest when it comes to deadly pandemics," the Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday. "The last 10 years have taught the government a lot, but it is far from enough." | "If there is anything that Sars has taught China and its government, it's that one cannot be too careful or too honest when it comes to deadly pandemics," the Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday. "The last 10 years have taught the government a lot, but it is far from enough." |
| Vietnam and Hong Kong have temporarily banned Chinese poultry imports, and airports in Japan have put up notices warning passengers from China to report any flu-like symptoms to medical professionals. | Vietnam and Hong Kong have temporarily banned Chinese poultry imports, and airports in Japan have put up notices warning passengers from China to report any flu-like symptoms to medical professionals. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |