Local poultry markets are closing across Guangdong as the province announced its third case of avian flu.

The latest person to contract the H7N9 virus is a 56 year-old man from Zhaoqing. Before him, a 36 year-old Dongguan man and a 6 year-old Shenzhen girl from Longhua District, the first case of the year, all tested positive with the virus.

Neighbouring Hong Kong raised its response level to “alert” after a 68 year-old Shenzhen woman was diagnosed with avian flu on Christmas Day. It was Hong Kong’s first case of avian flu since the beginning of 2014.

Thousands of chickens were culled in Hong Kong last week after infected poultry from Guangdong was discovered. Likewise, the Longhua poultry markets announced they would be closed until January 20.

Finally, a new policy will go into effect on January 15 that will raise fines levied against those found flouting the new poultry regulations to a maximum of RMB 50,000.

Photo: News GD