Hong Kong confirms first case of H7N9 bird flu

[alaminph]

Dr Ko Wing-man, Hong Kong's food and health secretary, confirmed the territory's first H7N9 case late on Monday.

H7N9 is a type of influenza virus that normally circulates among birds and has not until recently been seen in people, the WHO says.

He said that the patient "has a history of travelling to Shenzhen, buying a chicken, slaughtering and eating the chicken".

Hong Kong is now on public health alert and has suspended the import of live chickens from some farms across the border with the mainland.