Xi urges efforts to contain H7N9 bird flu

BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping on Friday urged government authorities to take effective measures to contain the spread of the H7N9 avian flu.

Xi said local authorities should prioritize public safety and health, as well as strengthen disease control and prevention, according to a statement released by the General Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

Areas that have experienced human H7N9 infections should prioritize treating the patients and make every effort to reduce deaths from the disease, Xi said.

At present, human infections have been found in six provincial-level regions in China, including Beijing and Shanghai municipalities and the provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui and Henan.

Eighty-seven cases have been reported so far, resulting in 17 deaths, according to the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

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