Bird flu likely in China-Myanmar border area
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The potentially fatal avian influenza A strain H7N9 has surfaced in China-Myanmar border areas such as Laukkai, Chin Shwe Haw and Muse Townships.
The Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department found a sample collected from the border area contained strains H9 and H5, which need to be present together to spark an incidence of H7N9. It was not reported whether anyone has been infected.
"If the two strains combine in the body of a human being, there is a chance to have an outbreak of the H7N9 virus," said an unidentified researcher who has participated in bird flu research in the China-Myanmar border area.
"As for meat sellers, they must clean their shops regularly because the life of the virus is very short. If they do not clean their shops, the virus will be more dangerous."
