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China bird flu death toll rises in 2014

A man has died from the H7N9 bird flu strain in eastern China, state media reported today at the end of a year in which cases of the virus have accelerated.

The deceased man was one of two recent cases reported in the city of Yongkang in Zhejiang. They were the third and fourth in the province “since the start of winter”, the China News Service reported. The death emerged as hospitals in Hong Kong were put on alert after a woman diagnosed with the potentially deadly virus was said to be in critical condition.

Health officials in China notified the World Health Organisation (WHO) earlier this month of 11 new H7N9 cases on the mainland, including five deaths. Recent statistics compiled by health authorities in Beijing show 310 cases were diagnosed on the mainland from January until December 10 this year, which include 132 deaths. Last year, the country recorded 46 deaths and 144 cases since the outbreak started in March 2013.
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