New Delhi: China is experiencing a tough time as the death toll caused due to H7N9 bird flu has shot up recently, which has forced the poultry markets to shut.
The National Health and Family Planning Commission said on Wednesday that by the end of January a total of 100 people had died in the current bird flu season, which commonly emerges in winter and continues into the spring.
The 79 deaths in China last month compared to just five in January 2016, according to the commission.
The surge in fatalities has raised concerns that a severe outbreak looms, though health officials have said the worst has likely passed.
H7N9, a subtype of influenza that affects both birds and humans, was first discovered in China in 2013.
Most infected patients become severely ill, and nearly one in three cases are fatal.
The government is urging people to avoid live poultry markets, where poor sanitation conditions can raise the risk of contamination.
Ni Daxin, a top official with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, was quoted Thursday by the state-run China Daily as saying the common Chinese preference for live or freshly-slaughtered chickens was contributing to the disease`s spread.
(With Agency inputs)
