The Chinese health authorities have virtually raised a red flag over the fast spreading Bird Flu virus across the country, admitting for the first time that the deadly virus has already spread across half of China's territory and more fatalities may await the authorities.   

Like Us on Facebook

A statement issued by the National Health and Family Planning Commission on Tuesday warned that if the situation was not tightly controlled then the H7N9 virus could spread further, but assured that situation was still "preventable and controllable."   

The dire warning comes amid reports of growing death doll numbers, which has already surpassed the death toll numbers registered during the first bird flu outbreak in 2013. Nearly 79 people died in January alone, which later climbed to 87 in February. The total number of people killed by the deadly has now already crossed 100.

According to reports, most number of H7N9 virus cases has occurred in the Pearl and Yangtze River delta region.

The sheer strength of the bird flu outbreak has forced the Chinese authorities to close down hordes of poultry markets across the country. The poultry markets especially in the southern and central China have attracted the ban order.

The shut down orders has severely hit the China's poultry industry, with prices of chicken crashing down and several sellers forced to sell chicken secretly. But the commission has justified the order by claiming that contact with H7N9-infected poultry was a high risk factor and shutting down such markets has proven to be an effective decision.

The last bird flu outbreak in 2013 had also caused enormous loss to poultry industry and agricultural sectors, apart from killing scores of people. Meanwhile,China's neighbouring countries such as Japan and South Korea have also come under H7N9 virus attack.  

TagsBird Flu Virus, H7N9 Virus, china, China Bird Flu