13 May 2013 (08:53 UTC-07 Tango)/03 Rajab 1434/23 Ordibehest 1392/04 Ding-Si (4th month) 4711

The latest reports out of China say 35 people have died out of 132 cases.  The National Health and Family Planning Commission says another person got infected in Jiangxi Province.  The report did not give any info about the new deaths.

In Singapore, the Health Ministry revealed that 11 people were suspected of having H7N9, as well as 24 people suspected of having coronavirus/MERS.  The ministry told Parliament that testing of birds was underway, and so far no sign of H7N9.  Singapore does not import live poultry.  The testing on the people suspected of being infected with the new viruses were negative.

Taiwan is reporting that their only human case is recovering.  They say there is no sign of the virus in his system, but his organs have been weakened so much that he must remain hospitalized, until they regain full strength.

At this point, China’s live poultry market ban has lost their economy $6.5 billion USD!

Commodity market analysts are expecting poultry prices to shoot up next month, because of the ongoing H7N9 infections.  Not only has China shut down live poultry markets, and culled tens of thousands of chickens and ducks, but many Asian countries have imposed poultry import bans.  The result is a shortage of poultry products in those Asian countries.

Those bans might help poultry prices come down in the countries of origin.  Example; Malaysia recently banned imports from Mexico and South Africa.  This should result in a glut of poultry in those countries.