Yangtze Delta tourism affected by bird virus

On Sunday, Zhejiang reported another four H7N9 cases, bringing its total to 15 cases with two dead.

"In previous years, a large number of people booked East China tours, but this year, fewer people asked about them or signed up," said Ou Hongzhi, an employee at Jucheng Holiday Agency in Guangzhou, Guangdong province.

"In the past few days, people are paying more attention to bird flu, and many who planned to visit East China canceled their trips," Ou told Guangzhou Daily on April 10.

Zhang Wu'an, a spokesman for the aviation department of Shanghai Spring Tour Co, said air travel was only slightly affected by the bid flu outbreak.

Zhang said some individuals canceled, but no more than was normal.

"Some people asked about H7N9 bird flu, but most of them kept rational. In general, the influence on the tourism situation and aviation is not big," he told China Daily on Sunday.

"So far, no evidence shows the virus can be transmitted among people. It's hard to assess what will happen to the tourism and aviation markets in the future," he said.

An employee of Shanghai Jinzhong Intentional Tourism Co named Chen said: "So far, tour packages in Shanghai and neighboring areas are normal. The flu hasn't affected them."

Tourism in East China is stable, and there has been no obvious influence from the flu, said Hu Yao, an official at the Nanjing Tourism Commission in Jiangsu. That province had reported 16 H7N9 cases by Sunday.

The World Health Organization has not yet recommended people refrain from or trade in the areas affected by the flu. But Canada's Public Health Agency issued a health travel notice on April 7 suggesting that people who are traveling to China take precautions against H7N9 bird flu.