Mainland, Taiwan to join efforts in battling H7N9

The Chinese mainland is providing a H7N9 avian influenza virus strain to Taiwan as part of joint efforts to prevent and control the disease, according to a spokeswoman with the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.

The two sides across the Taiwan strait are exchanging information on the latest development of the bird flu, Fan Liqing said.

Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-jeou on Tuesday called for cross-Strait cooperation in the development of a vaccine to prevent the spread of H7N9.

The island's disease control authority said Tuesday that three of 10 suspected cases of H7N9 bird flu infections in people reported over the preceding 24 hours are negative. The remaining seven cases are still being tested.

So far, the Chinese mainland has reported a total of 28 H7N9 cases, nine of which have ended in fatalities.

Special report: H7N9 avian influenza