H7N9 still confined to live poultry markets

Ye Guokuang, 63, feeds chicken at a poultry farm in Wenzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, April 17, 2013. [Photo by Gao Erqiang/Asianewsphoto]

BEIJING - Animal infections of the H7N9 avian flu have only been detected in live poultry markets and a single wild pigeon, agricultural authorities said Wednesday.

Of the 47,801 samples collected from more than 1,000 poultry markets, habitats, farms and slaughterhouses across the country, 39 samples have tested positive for the virus, the Ministry of Agriculture said in a statement.

Of the 39 positive samples, 38 came from live poultry markets in East China's Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, central China's Anhui province and the city of Shanghai.

A wild pigeon tested positive for the virus in Jiangsu.

The virus has not been detected in pigs, the ministry said.