The number of confirmed H7N9 bird flu cases in mainland China stood at 120 as of yesterday at 7 p.m. Beijing time, according to China National Radio. The number of dead was 23.
The latest case of the deadly new flu includes the first illness in Hunan Province.
Cases continued to rise after World Health Organization officials this week concluded a trip to China and lauded the country’s efforts to control the deadly new flu.
Consumers have been wary of chicken, even though the government says cooked meat is safe. Yum!, the U.S. operator of the KFC fried chicken chain that has relied on China for much of its growth in recent years, has been hit with a decline in KFC sales in the country.
The disease has continued to spread from the eastern China area where it was first discovered. Taiwan also reported its first case this week. China’s government claims sovereignty over Taiwan, and mainland media have combined Taiwan with the mainland’s H7N9 total number of cases.
-- Follow me on Twitter @rflannerychina
