H7N9 test reagents distributed nationwide

BEIJING - Testing reagents for the H7N9 avian influenza virus have been distributed to all flu monitoring sites across the country, China's center for disease control said on Wednesday.

A total of 160,000 Real-time PCR reagents have been delivered to make all areas capable of detecting human infections with H7N9, according to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The center has also provided major infectious disease hospitals and research agencies with testing materials and methods for the newly discovered type of bird flu, it said.

The deadly bird flu has so far killed nine of the 33 people confirmed as infected with H7N9 in China.