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| H7N9: Bird flu cases surge ahead of Chinese New Year | H7N9: Bird flu cases surge ahead of Chinese New Year |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A surge in cases of the deadly new strain of bird flu has been reported in China at the beginning of 2014. | A surge in cases of the deadly new strain of bird flu has been reported in China at the beginning of 2014. |
| Only a handful of people had been infected with H7N9 since June, but health officials have reported 73 cases so far this month. | |
| Influenza researchers argue the winter season and preparations for Chinese New Year may be driving the increase. | Influenza researchers argue the winter season and preparations for Chinese New Year may be driving the increase. |
| The World Health Organization called for vigilance, saying the virus was likely to remain present for some time. | The World Health Organization called for vigilance, saying the virus was likely to remain present for some time. |
| H7N9 made the jump from infecting domestic chickens and ducks to infecting people at the end of March 2013. | H7N9 made the jump from infecting domestic chickens and ducks to infecting people at the end of March 2013. |
| Within a month, 126 cases and 24 deaths had been recorded. | Within a month, 126 cases and 24 deaths had been recorded. |
| The virus was stopped in its tracks as control measures, such as closing live poultry markets, were introduced. | The virus was stopped in its tracks as control measures, such as closing live poultry markets, were introduced. |
| There were just five cases between June and November. | There were just five cases between June and November. |
| The recent jump takes the total number of cases to 219, including 55 deaths. | |
| Apart from a couple of cases in close family clusters, the virus has not been able to spread from person to person. | Apart from a couple of cases in close family clusters, the virus has not been able to spread from person to person. |
| Gregory Hartl, spokesman for the World Health Organization (WHO), said flu viruses circulated more easily during the colder winter months. | Gregory Hartl, spokesman for the World Health Organization (WHO), said flu viruses circulated more easily during the colder winter months. |
| "Our calculation was always that we were going to have to watch the winter, and that's where we are at the moment. | "Our calculation was always that we were going to have to watch the winter, and that's where we are at the moment. |
| "We need to remain vigilant, but so far the virus does not seem to have mutated in any way," he says. | "We need to remain vigilant, but so far the virus does not seem to have mutated in any way," he says. |
| "Some people will be looking very closely at the Chinese New Year, when there will be lots of people travelling. | "Some people will be looking very closely at the Chinese New Year, when there will be lots of people travelling. |
| "It will be crowded on trains and they'll also be travelling with chickens." | "It will be crowded on trains and they'll also be travelling with chickens." |
| Prof John McCauley, the director of a WHO collaborating centre on influenza in London, said: "I've been worried all the time about H7N9; it's highly virulent and the case fatality is about one in three, so it poses a threat." | Prof John McCauley, the director of a WHO collaborating centre on influenza in London, said: "I've been worried all the time about H7N9; it's highly virulent and the case fatality is about one in three, so it poses a threat." |
| The range of the virus had also spread, he added, with cases in Guangdong province, further south and east than previously. | The range of the virus had also spread, he added, with cases in Guangdong province, further south and east than previously. |
| He said the winter might not be the whole explanation, particularly in southern provinces closer to the equator. | He said the winter might not be the whole explanation, particularly in southern provinces closer to the equator. |
| "It may be seasonal, or an alternative is more poultry exposure in the build-up to Chinese New Year, and more poultry going through the markets. | "It may be seasonal, or an alternative is more poultry exposure in the build-up to Chinese New Year, and more poultry going through the markets. |
| "They might need to reconsider closure of the markets." | "They might need to reconsider closure of the markets." |
| 'Good position' | 'Good position' |
| The H7N9 virus itself, however, does not appear to have mutated in a way that could make it more likely to spread around the globe. | The H7N9 virus itself, however, does not appear to have mutated in a way that could make it more likely to spread around the globe. |
| Prof Wendy Barclay, an influenza researcher at Imperial College London, did not think the virus had changed. | Prof Wendy Barclay, an influenza researcher at Imperial College London, did not think the virus had changed. |
| "There's still no evidence of human-to-human transmission or mutations to make it closer to a pandemic. | "There's still no evidence of human-to-human transmission or mutations to make it closer to a pandemic. |
| "So from that perspective there's nothing new to worry about." | "So from that perspective there's nothing new to worry about." |
| She said overall "we're in as good a position as we could hope" and the early steps of producing a vaccine were now completed. | She said overall "we're in as good a position as we could hope" and the early steps of producing a vaccine were now completed. |
| "We're back to waiting to see if if does mutate." | "We're back to waiting to see if if does mutate." |
| The WHO does not advise any travel or trade restrictions because of bird flu, while the European Centres of Disease Control rates the virus as a "significant long-term threat". | The WHO does not advise any travel or trade restrictions because of bird flu, while the European Centres of Disease Control rates the virus as a "significant long-term threat". |