China Kills 20,000 Birds As 6th Person Dies Of Avian Flu

China culled around 20,000 birds as the death toll from a new strain of the avian flu rose to six.

China Kills 20,000 Birds (NoypiStuff File Photo)

The mass bird killing was carried out at the Huhuai Agricultural Products Wholesale market in a suburb of Shanghai, where the virus was detected in pigeons being sold for meat. Officials also ordered disinfection and temporary closure of the market.

Xinhua news agency reported that a 64-year-old farmer who died Thursday night in Hangzhou was confirmed to have been infected with the H7N9 virus, which had not previously been found in humans until a series of cases were reported in China this week.

A total of 14 H7N9 cases have been confirmed so far, while some 400 people who were in close contact with them are being monitored.

Health officials have repeatedly stressed that the transmission of the virus has not jumped between humans.

"It is really a severe illness but cases are being well handled and put into intensive care units," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said during a news briefing in Geneva. "There doesn't seem to be any indication of infections in hospital so far. We are ensuring hospitals have instituted proper infection control and procedures for dealing with it."

The United States consulate in Shanghai has issued a statement on Friday, urging people to remain calm.

"At this point the risk for international disease spread is considered low," the consulate said. "The latest advisory from the World Health Organization as of April 4 is that no travel or trade restrictions with China should be applied based on the current information."