The Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province reported Saturday on a human case of H9N2 avian influenza in a child, according to a China News report (computer translated).

China /CIA
China /CIA

The case, a four year old girl, is from  Xingning City, Meizhou. She is currently in serious condition at a Meizhou hospital.

The Guangdong CDC believes she contracted the virus from poultry. Guangdong CDC experts have warned that the public should remain vigilant, as far as possible to avoid live bird markets, not to buy products of unknown origin of birds.

Avian influenza is caused by those influenza viruses that mainly affect birds and poultry, such as chickens or ducks. Human cases infected with avian influenza A (e.g. H5N1, H5N6, H6N1, H7N9, H9N2 and H10N8) viruses have been identified in recent years.

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