Blog 8: China

Shanghai is closing all live poultry markets. In Shanghai there has been an outbreak of H7N9 found in pigeons in Shanghai. 20,000 birds have already been killed because of this unusual strain of bird flu. This bird flu has also made the jump from birds to humans killing six people. The government has ordered a closure of the bird market. The type of virus had not been found in humans until last week in China. Researchers in the U.S. have started preparing a vaccine for the strain of the flu H7N9. Research shows the virus found in humans were very similar and had much genetic overlap with that of the pigeons with the bird flu In effort to protect the inhabitants. Shanghai authorities have disinfected the area and all objects that were in contact with the birds. Authorities are also trying to track were the pigeons came from. There have been 14 human cases of H7N9. The range of the deaths is from a 4 year old to a 83 year old.

 The article goes on to discuss more strains in the past as well as the infected and death toll. These viruses have proven to be very deadly. This will cause many issues for China’s inhabitants. Not only are they losing money by having to mass slaughter the birds. Also they are losing food and valuable meat. But the greatest cost is the deaths. A young child only four years old will not run and play anymore because of this virus. Theses viruses that are jumping from animals to humans are proving to be very deadly. This really worries me because China has a very high density. With people in such close proximity as well as close proximity to the animals this could reach epidemic proportions. I think that we need to be more proactive with the viruses always looking for a new cure for possible mutations. Also we need better practices with animals  to avoid so much contact.

Latina Brooks

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/04/world/asia/china-bird-flu/index.html?hpt=hp_inthenews

April 5, 2013

10:25am