Disease

Deadly 'H7N9' Avian Flu Spreads in China

A particularly deadly strain of avian flu, currently found in China, has infected more people there this flu season than it has in any season since the virus was identified, a new report finds.

From October 2016 to February 2017, 460 people were reported infected with the H7N9 virus, according to the report, which was published today (March 3) by the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This season is considered to be the fifth annual epidemic of the virus, which was first identified in early 2013.

During the first epidemic, which occurred in early 2013, 135 people were infected with the virus, according to the report. In the next epidemic, in 2013 to 2014, 320 people were infected; in the 2015 to 2016 epidemic, 226 people were infected; and in the 2015 to 2016 epidemic, 119 people were infected, according to the report.

New Bird Flu Outbreak in UK

Around 55,000 ducks are to be destroyed after a bird flu outbreak was discovered at another farm in south-eastern England.

The Department of Food And Rural Affairs (Defra) announced on Friday that avian influenza H5N8 has been found on a farm near Redgrave, Suffolk. Officials detected the highly pathogenic virus while investigating a separate poultry farm nearby where chickens were confirmed to be infected last month. A protection zone measuring nearly two miles and a six-mile surveillance zone are already in place following the earlier case, although officials say the threat to humans is "very low".