Bird flu kills two in China amid fears over holiday travel
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Beijing - Two people have died of the H7N9 bird flu virus in China, reports said Tuesday, bring the year's death toll to 25, and raising concerns as millions prepare to travel for the end of the new year holiday.
A 59-year-old man died in the town of Louding on Monday, after coming into contact with live poultry, state-run news agency Xinhua reported.
It was the first fatality from the disease in the south-eastern province of Hunan.
On Sunday, a woman died in Foshan, in the central province of Guangdong. A total of 113 cases have been reported across the country this year.
Concerns have been raised as many of China's 1.3-billion population travel at the end of the new year holiday this week.
Authorities have advised people to contact hospitals if they develop a fever after contact with live poultry, but experts say transmission of the disease between humans remains unlikely, the report said.
DPA
