Higher temperatures curb bird flu

Higher temperatures and efficient government measures have lowered the number of bird flu cases this month, South China Morning Post reported. There have been 131 cases of H7N9 reported in mainland China, but only four have been reported in May. Since February, 35 people have died of the disease, but no deaths were reported this month. The flu spiked in mid-April with a high of 14 new cases reported in a single day. Temperatures higher than 20 degrees Celsius make spreading the flu difficult, experts said. Beijing’s closing of live poultry markets in many areas also contributed to the decline.