Research: H7N9 originated in China

Research from Chinese scientists said the H7N9 bird flu virus originated from poultry or wild birds in East China.

Scientists from Shanghai-based Fudan University investigated and analyzed the virus through advanced bioinformatics, and concluded that the virus’s two major proteins HA and NA are both from East China.

Previously, some experts from China, and overseas, said HA, the subtype of H7, was from ducks in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, while NA, subtype of N9, was from fowl in South Korea.

But the research team from Fudan University said the subtype N9 came from Baikal Teal in Hongze Lake in Jiangsu province.

The results were published in the latest edition of Clinical Infectious Diseases.

wanghongyi@chinadaily.com.cn