China is reporting four more deaths due to infection from a new strain of avian influenza, H7N9, bringing the total number of bird flu related fatalities to 31, according to Chinese health authorities. The total number of infections in the country has increased from two to 129.
Out of the four latest fatalities, two deaths occurred in Jiangsu, one in Zhejiang, and another in Anhui, according to Reuters.
Two of the most recent infections were reported in Fujian, according to Chinese health authorities. For the most part, the novel strain of bird flu was concentrated around the Shanghai region but then spread to Fujian near the end of April.
While details of the H7N9 virus remain mysterious, there are no signs that the infection is transmitted easily between humans, according to the World Health Organization, WHO.
Chinese experts say that H7N9 is spread by human contact with chickens, but WHO claims that 40 percent of the people who were infected with the virus did not seem to have any contact with poultry.
But while the current strain of the avian influenza is not in a form that could cause a pandemic, there is still the possibility that the strain could mutate and trigger a serious pandemic, the head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
The CDC says that no cases of this strain of bird flu have been reported outside of China.
"While mild illness in human cases has been seen, most patients have had severe respiratory illness and some people have died. No cases of H7N9 outside of China have been reported," The agency said.
"The new H7N9 virus has not been detected in people or birds in the United States."