Hangzhou discloses H7N9 testing details

After reporting two cases of the H7N9 bird flu virus, the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou is taking measures to keep residents informed and to prevent unnecessary panic. The city has just opened its H7N9 testing center to the media and released information on how the city is dealing with the health problem.

A first and close look inside the laboratory examining the new H7N9 strain of the bird flu virus, this is the microbiology department of Hangzhou's Disease Control Center where most of the city's testing on H7N9 is being conducted. These are the samples taken from those who had close contact with the second person infected with H7N9 in the city.

According to lab staff, six tests are run on each sample. Test results like these show that the sample is negative. Those, positive. This lab technician tells us that so far, tests for those who had close contact with the second infected person in the city all came out negative, indicating that none of them are infected with the virus.

Despite the good news, the city will maintain close monitoring of all those who've had contact with the two infected patients. They have to undergo a 7-day period of medical observation and health checkups. Their temperatures are taken every morning and evening. So far, none have shown signs of infection.

For the first time since H7N9 was detected in the city, health officials have openly addressed the issue, warning residents to avoid contact with birds.

Teng Jianrong, Director, Hangzhou Health Bureau, said, "Our epidemiological study finds that the two infected people both had contact with poultry. The first case was a cook who later died. The second person shopped for quails at a nearby market where we're sampling and testing, in line with regulations. We consider it a high-risk place and are warning residents not to consume poultry for the time being. "

Unable to determine whether quails sold at the market were the source of the virus, the local government carried out a cull of all live birds at the market early on Saturday. The market has now been banned from trading live birds. As an extra precaution, a city-wide inspection on live animal trading markets has been conducted. So far, no evidence of the virus has been detected in other livestock markets.