Chinese authorities have confirmed that a 29-year-old woman is infected with bird (avian) flu in Chengdu, South West China. The woman, called Cao, is in a critical condition. Tests confirmed she is infected with the virulent H5N1 bird flu virus strain.
The woman comes from a part of the country which has so far been free of avian flu. She worked in a farm/shop which sold nuts and seeds, but no poultry or birds.
(Bird flu = Avian flu)
Authorities in China are concerned about the coming Lunar New Year public holiday when a huge number of chickens are slaughtered and lots of people travel around the country to meet relatives. During the Lunar New Year a much larger number of chickens is transported around the country.
As China holds about one-fifth of the world’s population, anything that happens there can have a serious impact on what happens in the rest of the globe.
You cannot become infected with bird flu if you eat cooked chicken. However, the slaughtering process carries a higher risk of infection (those working in slaughterhouses have to be more careful).
So far, six people have died of bird flu in China – out of a total of 10 infections.
Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today