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                  Bird Flu Costs in China set at $6.5 Billion

   Scientists and economists say the H7N9 bird flu outbreak in China has
   cost that country`s poultry industry $6.5 billion, as consumers shun
   chicken and health officials make gains in controlling the deadly
   virus.
   The cost data, provided by China`s agriculture ministry, was reported
   Tuesday at the World Health Assembly in Geneva.
   At the conference, United Nations experts warned health authorities
   worldwide to be on the lookout for the virus, which is known to have
   infected 130 people in China since first appearing in March. Chinese
   authorities say 36 of the victims have died.
   A top World Health Organization official, Keiji Fukuda, told the
   gathering the immediate outbreak has been controlled, but it is
   unlikely the virus has simply disappeared. He repeated findings showing
   the virus in its present form crossed from birds to humans at live
   markets in China where chickens and other poultry are slaughtered and
   sold.
   Authorities say there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission
   in the outbreak.
   China`s official Xinhua news agency said emergency virus control
   procedures were lifted last week in eastern provinces and major cities,
   including Shanghai, Jiangsu and Shandong, where most of the infections
   occurred.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/bird-flu-costs-in-china-set-at-65-bil
   lion/1665767.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/bird-flu-costs-in-china-set-at-65-billion/1665767.html