Vice premier urges efforts to control H7N9 bird flu

Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong has urged efforts to prevent and control the spread of H7N9 bird flu and cure infected patients.

During a Sunday tour of east China's Shanghai and nearby Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, Liu visited hospitals to see recovered patients and conveyed greetings to medical staff. She also visited disease control and prevention centers to investigate the surveillance and development of the virus.

Liu told a seminar attended by medical experts from five provincial level regions that effective, timely measures have been taken by local governments after the report of H7N9 cases, and efforts to prevent and control the virus spread have also been recognized by the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Liu called on medical workers to pay high attention to the development of the virus, speed up the study of the lesser-known strain and relentlessly control the spread of the disease.

She said that in regions where human infections have been reported, health authorities should enhance cooperation and increase information sharing to better deal with the disease.

The government should keep updating information about H7N9 bird flu in a transparent manner, and respond to public concerns in a timely manner, Liu said, adding that efforts are also needed to promote the transformation of the poultry industry.