Shanghai terminates contingency for bird flu

Considering that no new H7N9 birdflu virus infections have been reported in the city for 20 consecutive days, the Shanghai municipal government announced the termination of Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan (Level III), according to a circular released on the municipal government's official website on Friday.

The decision was based on a meeting of experts held on May 8, which concluded that the situation was under control.

All the 458 people who had close contact with people infected with the virus in the city have been released from medical observation, the circular said.

Currently there is no evidence to show that the H7N9 bird flu virus can spread from human to human, the circular said.

By May 10, 33 people had been confirmed to be infected with H7N9 bird flu virus in Shanghai, among which 13 died, 15 have recovered, and five are under medical treatment.

The city's live poultry trading zones, which have be closed in the past few weeks to prevent the further spreading of the virus, will remain suspended, according to the circular.

Departments need to carry out close cooperation and make every effort to prevent and control the spread of the virus, the municipal government said on Friday.