BREAKING NEWS

China confirms 2nd human bird flu infection this week

BEIJING - Chinese authorities have confirmed a second case of human bird flu infection this week, state media reported late on Wednesday, as South Korea and Japan battle to control outbreaks of the deadly virus.
Local authorities ordered a halt to poultry sales from Thursday in the Siming district of Xiamen city, in China's eastern Fujian province, after a 44-year-old man was diagnosed with the H7N9 avian flu on Sunday, Xinhau reported citing the city's diseases prevention and control center.
The patient is being treated in hospital and is stable condition, it said.
The latest incident comes after Hong Kong confirmed an elderly man was diagnosed with the disease earlier this week.
Both cases come as South Korea and Japan have ordered the killing of tens of millions of birds in the past month, stoking fears of regional spread.