Hangzhou, Nanjing cull birds as H7N9 cases rise

The eastern Chinese cities of Hangzhou and Nanjing slaughtered poultry and halted trading at poultry markets after new cases of the H7N9 strain of avian influenza were found, Bloomberg reported. A total of 18 human infections had been found in eastern China as of Sunday, with six deaths confirmed. The outbreak caused soybean futures and Chinese stocks traded in Hong Kong and New York to fall on concerns it might dent economic growth. Chinese health authorities tried to ease concerns Sunday, saying they had an adequate amount of anti-flu medicines and had started production of a vaccine, according to Bloomberg.