A new strain of bird flu, which first originated in China and sickened more than 100, has spread to Taiwan, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
A 53-year-old Taiwanese businessman who returned from China's coastal Jiangsu province had contracted the virus. This is the first case that has been reported outside China's mainland.
In addition, three healthcare workers who treated the patient are reported to have developed symptoms of bird flu, raising concerns that the strain has strong potential for human-to-human contact.
The patient in Taiwan did not seem to have had any exposure to birds or poultry and had not consumed undercooked poultry or eggs while in China, according the Taiwan CDC.
In order to better understand the virus and its potential for transmission among humans, the Chinese and World Health Organization officials said that they plan to increase surveillance and research on H7N9
In April, the new H7N9 virus was detected in urban poultry markets in China, leading to the culling of thousands of birds. However, unlike H5N1, the new virus does not seem to sicken the infected birds.
