NVDL: At this time of year - the Chinese Lunar New Year - huge amounts of people and animals are transported all over the country. This could hasten the spread of this killer disease.
BEIJING (Reuters) –
Chinese health authorities said on Monday a 16-year-old boy in central Hunan province is badly ill after contracting the H5N1 birdflu virus, the third case reported in as many days as the Lunar New Year holiday looms.
"The patient's condition is critical," the statement said. It added that he previously had "contact with dead poultry."
Two have died, one a 27-year-old woman who died in eastern China on Saturday, and the other a 19-year-old woman who died in Beijing earlier this month.
"As the Spring Festival approaches, there are frequent movements of poultry products and the risk rises of virus outbreaks and transmission," the Agriculture Ministry said in a statement on its website (www.agri.gov.cn).
The Spring Festival, or Lunar New Year holiday, starts next Monday, accompanied by a mass movement of people back to their home provinces for lavish celebratory meals.
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clipped from news.yahoo.com
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