Hangzhou’s two largest poultry markets were closed January 22nd and all live poultry markets in six districts in eastern China have been ordered to be disinfected as authorities begin monitoring all domestic fowl, birds on poultry farms, migratory bird and birds in parks. The closing of the poultry markets comes at the height of the sales period one week before the Lunar New Year on January 31st. Five new H7N9 cases were reported in Zhejiang on one day making 15 consecutive days seeing new cases emerge, and two additional deaths were reported. The region of Zhejiang reports a total of 37 cases of human H7N9 infections as well as being the site of the first human-to-human transmission. At Gouzhuang, one of the major markets being closed, business totaled over 100,000 birds per day – over 70,000 chickens and 30,000 ducks, pigeons and geese. Jiaxing Lihua Livestock Co. Ltd, a major poultry business in the region, stated that the company had over 700,000 live chickens ready to go to market at the time of the shut-down, and according to the Zhejiang province poultry industry association the ban will affect the sale of 10 million poultry.
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