Bird Flu infects more in China
China announced a sixth death from a new bird flu strain Friday, while authorities carried out the slaughter of all poultry at a Shanghai market where the virus was detected in pigeons being sold for meat.
Read more: Two more bird flu deaths reported prompting Shanghai to slaughter poultry supply
A middle-aged man who transported poultry for a living has died from a new strain of bird flu in Shanghai, the fourth death among 11 confirmed cases in China, the government and state media reported Thursday.
Scientists taking a first look at the genetics of the bird flu strain said Wednesday the virus could be harder to track than its better-known cousin H5N1 because it might be able to spread silently among poultry without notice. The bird virus also seems to have adapted to be able to be able to sicken mammals like pigs.
Guidelines issued Wednesday by the national health agency identify butchers, breeders and sellers of poultry, and those in the meat processing industry as at higher risk.