Beijing (dpa) - China reported its 10th death and five more cases
of H7N9 bird flu on Thursday, as state media said scientists were
developing a vaccine that would be ready within seven months.
The eastern commercial hub of Shanghai, the area worst-hit by the
virus, reported three new infections including a 74-year-old man who
died on Thursday afternoon.
Health authorities in nearby Jiangsu province said they had
confirmed two more infections in a 31-year-old chef, who was in
critical condition, and a 56-year-old teacher.
The new cases brought the nationwide total to 38 confirmed
infections, including 10 deaths, in Shanghai, Jiangsu and the
neighbouring provinces of Anhui and Zhejiang.
Scientists would start work on the vaccine this week, the official
Xinhua news agency Xinhua reported.
Chinese authorities and the World Health Organization have played
down fears of an epidemic, saying there is no evidence of
human-to-human transmission.
Shanghai culled chickens and other fowl at markets in the city
last week after the virus was found in pigeons nearby.
Copyright 2013 dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH