Chinese authorities kill 20,000 birds as avian flu toll rises to 6

Jethro Mullen, CNN
4 minute read
Updated 11:25 AM EDT, Fri April 5, 2013
A janitor sprays disinfectant over empty chicken cages at a market in New Taipei City, Taiwan, on Monday, April 29. Asian countries have stepped up vigilance against the spread of H7N9 bird flu after a case of the deadly strain showed up in Taiwan, the first outside mainland China.
Bird flu scare spreads —
A janitor sprays disinfectant over empty chicken cages at a market in New Taipei City, Taiwan, on Monday, April 29. Asian countries have stepped up vigilance against the spread of H7N9 bird flu after a case of the deadly strain showed up in Taiwan, the first outside mainland China.
Mandy Cheng/AFP/Getty Images
A New Taipei City Department of Environmental Protection truck sprays a virus disinfectant in a park on April 29.
Bird flu scare spreads —
A New Taipei City Department of Environmental Protection truck sprays a virus disinfectant in a park on April 29.
PICHI CHUANG/Reuters /Landov
Doctors hold a consultation on the treatment for a patient surnamed Luo, the province's first human case of H7N9 avian influenza, at the No. 2 Hospital in Longyan City, in southeast China's Fujian Province, on April 27. Luo, 65, a local resident, showed symptoms of repeated coughing, low fever and a tight chest on April 18. Luo tested positive for the H7N9 virus on Friday by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Thirty-seven people who have been in close contact with Luo have not shown any abnormal symptoms so far.
Bird flu scare spreads —
Doctors hold a consultation on the treatment for a patient surnamed Luo, the province's first human case of H7N9 avian influenza, at the No. 2 Hospital in Longyan City, in southeast China's Fujian Province, on April 27. Luo, 65, a local resident, showed symptoms of repeated coughing, low fever and a tight chest on April 18. Luo tested positive for the H7N9 virus on Friday by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Thirty-seven people who have been in close contact with Luo have not shown any abnormal symptoms so far.
WEI PEIQUAN/Xinhua/Landov
A vendor stands by her chicken coop in Fuqing, southeast China's Fujian Province on April 26. At least 20 people have died from the virus which, while common in birds, hadn't been detected in humans before the first cases were reported in March.
Bird flu scare spreads —
A vendor stands by her chicken coop in Fuqing, southeast China's Fujian Province on April 26. At least 20 people have died from the virus which, while common in birds, hadn't been detected in humans before the first cases were reported in March.
ZHANG GUOJUN/Xinhua /Landov
A woman wearing a medical mask walks past vending machines that sell masks outside National Taiwan University Hospital in Taipei on April 26. A 53-year-old Taiwanese businessman has contracted the H7N9 strain of bird flu while traveling in China, Taiwan's Health Department said on April 24. It's the first reported case outside of mainland China. The man was hospitalized after becoming ill three days after returning from Suzhou on April 9.
Bird flu scare spreads —
A woman wearing a medical mask walks past vending machines that sell masks outside National Taiwan University Hospital in Taipei on April 26. A 53-year-old Taiwanese businessman has contracted the H7N9 strain of bird flu while traveling in China, Taiwan's Health Department said on April 24. It's the first reported case outside of mainland China. The man was hospitalized after becoming ill three days after returning from Suzhou on April 9.
PICHI CHUANG/Reuters /Landov
Disease control workers examine a chicken in a poultry farm in Fuqing on April 26.
Bird flu scare spreads —
Disease control workers examine a chicken in a poultry farm in Fuqing on April 26.
ZHANG GUOJUN/Xinhua /Landov
Three people wearing masks walk outside the National Taiwan University Hospital in Taipei on Thursday, April 25. China has reported 83 cases of H7N9 avian influenza.
Bird flu scare spreads —
Three people wearing masks walk outside the National Taiwan University Hospital in Taipei on Thursday, April 25. China has reported 83 cases of H7N9 avian influenza.
SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images
An H7N9 bird flu patient walks in the corridor of a hospital after his recovery and approval for discharge in Bozhou, in central China's Anhui Province, on Friday, April 19.
Bird flu scare spreads —
An H7N9 bird flu patient walks in the corridor of a hospital after his recovery and approval for discharge in Bozhou, in central China's Anhui Province, on Friday, April 19.
STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images
Chickens line the walls at a poultry farm on Thursday, April 18, in Yuncheng, China.
Bird flu scare spreads —
Chickens line the walls at a poultry farm on Thursday, April 18, in Yuncheng, China.
ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images
A 7-year-old girl, who was the first confirmed bird flu case in Beijing, is discharged from Beijing Ditan Hospital on Wednesday, April 17.
Bird flu scare spreads —
A 7-year-old girl, who was the first confirmed bird flu case in Beijing, is discharged from Beijing Ditan Hospital on Wednesday, April 17.
Lintao Zhang/Getty Images
Health workers collect blood samples from chickens at a poultry farm in Taizhou, China, on April 17.
Bird flu scare spreads —
Health workers collect blood samples from chickens at a poultry farm in Taizhou, China, on April 17.
ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images)
Chickens roost at a poultry farm in Taizhou, China, on Wednesday, April 17.
Bird flu scare spreads —
Chickens roost at a poultry farm in Taizhou, China, on Wednesday, April 17.
ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images